PROCEEDINGS 


v  AT    THE 


Unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument 


ON    THE 


SITE  OF  FORT  STEPHENSON, 


FREMONT,    OHIO. 


ORATION  BY  GEN.  J.  D.  COX. 
POEM  BY  CAPT.  ANDREW  C.  KEMPER. 
HISTORICAL  ADDRESS  BY  CAPT.  J.  M.  LEMMON. 


WITH  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  HEROIC  DEFENCE  OF  THE  FORT  BY 
MAJ.  GEO.  CROGHAN,  AUGUST  2,  1813;  ALSO  BIOGRAPHICAL 
SKETCHES  AND  MISCELLANEOUS  NOTES. 


FREMONT,  O.: 

THE    DEMOCRATIC    MESSENGER. 

1885. 


CONTENTS. 


VAOE, 

INTRODUCTORY,  5 


ADDRESS,        .  ......        16 

GENERAL    R.    P.    BlTCKLAND. 

REMARKS,  18 

GENERAL  R.  B.  HAYES. 

HISTORICAL  ADDRESS,     .  .  .  .23 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  M.  CEMMON. 

POEM—  FORT   STEPHENSON,  ....  37 

CAPTAIN  ANDREW  C.    KEMPER. 

ADDRESS  BY  THE  ORATOR  OF  THE  DAY,  .  .        41 

GENERAL  JACOB  D.  Cox, 

SPEECHES  AND  LETTERS,  .....  58 

INVITED  GUESTS. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES,       .  85 

HISTORICAL  NOTES,                            .  106 

MISCELLANEOUS,                                          .  .                   115 

J  SX  R  ACTIONS. 


THE  MONUMENT,          .  .  .  .  .  .  FRONTISPIECE. 

MAJOR  GEORGE  CKOOHAN,            .                                    ...  5 

FORT  STEPHEN  SON  PARK,       .            .             .            .            .            .  .18 

MEDALS  AWARDED  BY  CONGRESS,            .....  58 

GENERAL  JAMES  BIRDSEYE  McPHERSON,                 .            .            .  .85 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  GAINES,       .....  103 

PLAN  OF  FORT  STEPHENSON,              .  .      108 


235144 


THE  following  account  of  the  monument  and  of  its  dedication  is 
compiled  from  the  Journal  and  the  Messenger  of  Fremont,   the 
Leader  and  the  Plain  Dsaler  of  Cleveland,  and  from  the  Commercial- 
Telegram  and  the  Blade  of  Toledo. 

The  history  of  the  battle  of  Fort  Stephenson  is  from  official  reports, 
British  and  American. 

The  committee   are   specially  indebted   to    the   Stenographer,    Mr. 
Jacob  Burgner,  for  his  full  and  accurate  reports. 


>v  -  *fe#ie  v24&€W 

^ 


THE   MONUMENT. 


IN  1881  and  1882,  the  subject  of  erecting  at  Fremont,  Ohio,  a  suit- 
able monument  to  the  memory  of  the  heroic  soldier  dead  of 
Sandusky  County  began  to  take  shape,  and  one  of  the  first  steps  was 
to  secure  the  passage  of  a  bill  through  the  State  Legislature  authorizing 
the  submission  of  the  subject  to  the  voters  of  the  county  for  their 
approval.  This  was  accordingly  done  in  October,  1882,  the  vote  stand- 
ing 3,784  for  and  1,462  against,  the  question  carrying  by  the  hand- 
some majority  of  2,322.  The  Sandusky  County  Soldiers'  Monumental 
Association  was  then  incorporated,  composed  of  ex-President  R.  B 
Hayes,  General  R.  P.  Buckland,  Colonel  William  E.  Haynes,  Captain 
John  M.  Lemmon,  Colonel  J.  H.  Rhodes,  Hon.  John  B.  Rice,  and 
Captain  M.  E.  Tyler.  In  pursuance  of  law  the  County  Commissioners 
transferred  the  duty  of  erecting  the  monument  to  this  association,  and 
in  1884,  after  the  levy  of  the  tax  had  been  made,  they  advertised  for 
plans.  They  accepted  those  of  the  New  England  Granite  Works,  of 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  and  entered  into  a  contract  with  the  works  for 
the  monument  to  be  completed  before  the  15th  of  July,  this  year. 

The  site  selected  for  the  monument  is  the  beautiful  Fort  Steph- 
enson  Park  in  the  center  ol  the  city,  the  park  comprising  the  place 
upon  which  the  battle  of  Fort  Stephenson  was  fought  August  2,  1813, 
when  Major  George  Croghan  defeated  a  large  force  of  British  and 
Indians  under  Proctor  and  Tecumseh.  This  site  was  purchased  several 
years  ago  and  beautified  by  grading,  planting  of  trees,  and  placing  a 
substantial  stone  wall  around  the  whole  square.  On  the  northeast  cor- 
ner is  situated  the  city  building,  which  was  dedicated  in  1877,  at  the 
time  of  the  reunion  of  General  Hayes'  regiment.  A  little  west  of  the 
center  is  situated  Birchard  Library,  a  gift  of  our  late  honored  citizen, 
Sardis  Birchard,  uncle  of  General  Hayes.  This  library  is  a  very  fine 
one,  and,  aside  from  the  large  catalogue  of  books,  contains  hundreds  of 
valuable  curiosities  and  relics.  The  monument  is  placed  on  the  north 


side  of  the  park,  facing  Croghan  street,  and  nearly  in  front  of  the 
Library.  A  little  west  of  the  center  a  beautiful  flag  staff,  over  100 
feet  high,  has  been  erected  to  take  the  place  of  the  one  recently  blown 
clown. 

The  monument  cost  $7,000.  Excepting  the  statue,  it  is  of  Quincy 
granite;  the  statue  being  blue  Westerly  (R.  I.)  granite.  The  whole 
structure  is  forty-four  feet  three  inches  high.  The  platform  is  eighteen 
feet  square,  and  on  it  rests  three  bases  five  and  one-half  feet  high,  the 
largest  being  eight  feet  nine  inches  square.  The  die  is  four  feet  square. 
On  top  of  that  is  a  cap  over  which  rests  the  Corinthian  column,  three 
feet  in  diameter  at  the  bottom  and  two  feet  six  inches  at  the  top, 
eighteen  feet  six  inches  in  length,  and  fluted.  The  cap  surmounting 
the  column  is  four  feet  eight  inches  square,  and  three  feet  six  inches 
thick.  The  statue  of  the  soldier  is  eight  feet  high  including  the  base. 
The  statue  represents  a  soldier  at  parade  rest,  and  is  a  very  life-like 
representation.  It  faces  north.  The  polished  die  on  which  the  column 
stands,  bears  the  following  inscriptions  : 

On  the  north  side  : 

TO  HIM  WHO  HATH 
BORNE     THE     BATTLE 

AND    TO    HIS   WIDOW   AND    HIS    ORPHANS. 

ERECTED   BY   THE   PEOPLE   OF 

SANDUSKY   COUNTY,  1885. 

On  the  east  side  : 

LIBERTY    AND   UNION   NOW    AND    FOREVER, 
ONE    AND   INSEPARABLE. 

1861 1865. 

* 

On  the  south  side  : 

IN    MEMORY    OF   THE 
VICTORIOUS   DEFENCE   OF   FORT   STEPHENSON, 

ON    THIS   SPOT, 

BY   MAJOR   GEORGE   CROGHAN    AND   THE 

BRAVE   MEN   OF   HIS   COMMAND, 

AUGUST    2,    1813. 

On  the  west  side  is  the  representation  of  a  G.   A.   R.   badge  and 
the  following  inscription  : 

Vacant  places  at  our  camp  fires, 

Mutely  tell  of  comrades  dead, 
Fallen  in  the  line  of  duty, 

Where  the  needs  of  battle  led. 


i 
PREPAKING  FOR  THE  UNVEILING 

CITIZENS    MEETING. 

A  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Fremont  was  held  in  the  City  Hally 
Friday  evening,  July  17,  1885,  to  make  arrangements  for  the  occasion. 
Mayor  Buckland  was  chosen  Chairman  and  John  R.  Conklin  Secre- 
tary. The  following  committees  were  appointed  : 

Finance. — Fred  Fabing,  Frank  Heim,  L.  W.  Ward,  J.  R.  Conk- 
lin and  J.  P.  Thompson.  The  committee  is  to  solicit  funds  to  assist 
the  Monumental  Association  in  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  day. 

Decorations.— On  Front  street:  E.  H.  Underbill,  D.  W.  Krebs, 
C.  W.  Tschumy,  Henry  Grund.  On  State  street :  Adam  Hodes,  G.  F. 
Buchman,  Joseph  Stuber.  On  Croghan  street :  Rev.  Father  Bauer, 
H.  R.  Finefrock,  John  Hochenadle.  On  Birchard  avenue :  I.  M. 
Keeler,  J.  P.  Moore,  A.  E.  Rice.  On  Main  street:  C.  F.  Pohlman, 
Jr,  W.  W.  Ross,  G.  G.  Edgerton.  Third  ward:  Chas.  H.  Bell, 
Chas.  Thompson,  Henry  Coonrod,  Capt.  A.  Young. 

Citizens  Reception  Committee.  —  Hon.  John  B.  Rice,  Chairman ; 
I.  H.  Burgoon,  N.  C.  West,  E.  F.  Dickinson,  Dr.  O.  E.  Phillips,  O.  A. 
Roberts,  H.  R,  Shomo,  I.  E.  Amsden,  B.  Meek,  Col.  J.  R,  Bartlett, 
George  Kinney. 

Dr.  J.  B.  Rice  and  Colonel  Wm.  E.  Haynes  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  request  the  County  Commissioners  to  put  the  court  house 
park  in  good  condition  and  to  decorate,  and  to  request  the  Board  of 
Education  to  make  an  appropriation  for  decoration.  Both  boards  have 
complied  willingly  with  the  request  of  the  committee. 

HEADQUARTERS. 

Monumental  Association  at  the  High  School  building. 
Military  and  bands  at  Opera  Hall. 

Grand  Army  Posts  and  civic  societies  at  the  halls  used  by  the 
Posts  and  civic  societies  in  this  city. 

City,  village  and  county  officials  at  City  Hall. 

AT  THE  FRONT. 

The  key-note  struck  by  General  Sherman  in  his  letter  to  ex-Presi- 
dent Hayes,  which  was  read  by  Comrade  Hayes  at  the  last  meeting  of 
Eugene  Rawson  Post,  has  been  heard  and  applauded  by  the  soldiers 
and  sailors  of  San  dusky  county:  "The  defence  of  Fort  Stephenson 


by  Croghan  and  his  gallant  little  band  secured  to  our  immediate  ances- 
tors the  mastery  of  .the  Great  West.  The  occasion  is  worthy  a  monu- 
ment to  the  skies."  Endorsing  the  above  sentiment  of  General  Sher- 
man, Eugene  Rawson  Post,  No.  32,  G.  A.  R.,  will  take  part  in  the 
unveiling  ceremonies  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  August  1st,  1885. 
The  headquarters  for  visiting  Posts  and  comrades  will  be  at  the  Post 
Halls  in  Birchard  Block.  The  following  committees  have  been 
appointed,  all  of  whom  are  members  of  the  Post : 

General  Committee — John  P.  Thompson,  Chairman ;  Peter  Win- 
ters, Israel  Walborn,  Charles  Everett,  Andrew  Hauck. 

Committee  of  Reception. — Hon.  E.  F.  Dickinson,  Chairman;  Col. 
J.  R.  Bartlett,  Dr.  Wm.  Caldwell,  G.  W.  Petty,  P.  Beaugrand, 
Captains  I.  H.  Burgoon,  L.  Dick,  Chas.  Hampshire,  Andrew  Kline, 
John  Ginther,  J.  W.  Moore,  R.  B.  Dickinson. 

Decorating  Committee. — A.  E.  Oppenheimer,  Eugene  B.  Dwight, 
Wm.  Jacobs,  Joseph  Hunsinger,  M.  L.  Binkley,  John  Ramsey,  Israel 
Walborn. 

Soliciting  Committee — Major  Phineas  Gilmore,  Chairman  ;  Henry 
Stacey,  David  Van  Doren,  Charles  Everett,  Andrew  Hauck,  Wm. 
Poorman,  John  E.  Rearick,  John  L.  Greene,  John  Walker,  Charles 
Allman,  Reuben  Stine,  Peter  Carnicorne,  Andrew  Kline,  Marcus 
Wolfe,  Leander  Clark,  John  Carlay,  L.  H.  Curtis,  Jacob  Geiger, 
Martin  Bollinger,  Burr  Huss,  S.  B  Rathbun,  Chap  Rathbun,  David 
Andrews,  Eli  Bruner,  Martin  Hite,  Wm.  Herbster. 

The  members  of  the  various  committees  will  make  themselves 
generally  useful  in  looking  after  the  comfort  of  visiting  Posts  and  com- 
rades. Dinner  will  be  served  in  the  same  building,  and  the  Halls  and 
buildings  will  be  tastefully  decorated. 

By  order  of  the  Post, 

A.  YOUNG, 

JOHN  SCHCEDLER,  Post  Commander. 

Adjutant. 

MANVILLE  MOORE  POST  525,  July  21,  1885. 

The  following  action  was  had  by  the  Post :  Commander  Geo.  O. 
Harlan  appointed  Comrades  Jno.  G.  Nuhfer,  Everett  A.  Bristol, 
Daniel  S.  Moses,  Henry  G.  Stahl  and  Conrad  Creamer,  a  committee 
to  decorate  Post  Headquarters,  for  the  approaching  unveiling  of  the 
Soldiers'  Monument. 

On  motion  of  Comrade  Jno.  G  Nuhfer,  the  following  were  made 
a  Committee  on  Lunch  for  August  1st,  to  act  with  the  ladies,  viz  : 
Comrades  Gus.  A.  Gessner,  Thos.  F.  Heffner,  Henry  Blosier,  Jno.  V. 
Beery  and  Washington  Deffenbaugh. 


9 

MANVILLE  MOORE  POST  525,  July  28,  1885. 
The  following  action  was  taken  at  this  meeting  :  On  motion  of 
•Comrade  John  G.  Nuhfer,  Adjutant  David  A.  Ranck,  Comrades  Gus. 
A.  Gessner  and  Chas.  H.  Thompson,  were  made  a  committee  to  extend 
invitations  to  G.  A.  R.  Posts  adjoining  Fremont,  to  participate  in  the 
unveiling  ceremonies  on  August  1st. 

Comrade  Jno.  G.  Nuhfer  moved  the  appointment  of  Comrades 
D.  S.  Elder,  Jno  L.  Tindall,  David  A.  Ranck,  H.  B.  Smith,  A.  J. 
Hale,  E  A.  Bristol,  G  A.  Gessner,  Wm.  Deemer,  Chas.  E.  Barnes, 
and  Chas.  H.  Thompson,  a  Committee  on  Reception  for  August  1st. 

Comrade  Jno.  G.  Nuhfer  was  instructed  to  procure  one  hundred 
badges  for  August  1st. 

GEO.  O.  HARLAN, 

Commander. 
DAVID  A.  RANCK, 

Post  Adjutant. 
The  following  circular  was  issued  by  the  Monumental  Association  : 

THE  SANDUSKY  COUNTY  SOLDIERS'  MONUMENT, 
FREMONT,  OHIO. 

The  unveiling  of  the  Sandusky  County  Soldiers'  Monument  will  take  place 
with  appropriate  ceremonies  on  the  seventy-second  anniversary  of  the  victorious 
defence  of  Fort  Stephenson,  against  an  attack  of  British  and  Indians  under 
Proctor  and  Tecumseh,  by  Major  George  Croghan,  August  2,  1813. 

The  2d  of  August  this  year  falls  on  Sunday  and  the  anniversary  of  the 
victory  will  be  celebrated  on  the  spot  where  the  battle  was  fought  in  Fort 
Stephenson  Park,  Fremont,  Ohio,  on  Saturday,  the  first  day  of  August,  1885. 

All  soldiers  of  the  war  for  the  Union,  of  the  Mexican  war,  and  of  the  war 
of  1812,  the  county  and  city  officers,  all  societies,  civil,  religious  and  military, 
and  all  citizens  are  cordially  invited  to  attend  and  take  part  in  the  procession 
and  other  exercises. 

The  ceremonies  in  the  forenoon  will  consist  of  a  procession,  the  unveiling 
of  the  monument,  and  the  firing  of  salutes.  In  the  afternoon  addresses  and  a 
poem  will  be  delivered  at  Court  House  Square. 

Orator  of  the  Day, 
MAJ.  GEN.  JACOB  D.  COX. 

Poet, 
CAPT.  ANDREW  C.  KEMPER,  of  Cincinnati. 

Historian, 

CAPT.  JOHN  M.  LEMMON,  of  Clyde. 
Brief  addresses  are  expected  from  invited  guests. 

The  funds  for  the  monument  were  voted  by  the  people  of  Sandusky  County, 


10 

and  in  pursuance  of  law  the  County   Commissioners  transferred  the  duty  of 
erecting  it  to  the  Sandusky  County  Soldiers'  Monumental  Association. 

The  ceremony  of  unveiling  will  be  conducted  by  General  Ralph  P.  Buckland. 

President  of  the  Day, 
GEN.  RUTHERFORD  B.  HAYES. 

Grand  Marshal, 
CAPT.  JOHN  L.  GREENE. 

Chaplain, 
REV.  LYMAN  E.  PREXTISS. 

County  Commissioners, 
BRYAN  O'CONNER,  SAMUEL  BOOR,  PETER  DARR. 

Monumental  Association, 

Gen.  R.  P.  Buckland,  Gen.  K.  B.  Hayes,  Col.  Wra.  E.  Haynes,  Capt.  John  M, 
Lemmon,  Col.  J.  H.  Rhodes,  Hon.  John  B.  Rice  and  Capt.  M.  E.  Tyler. 

WM.  E.  HAYNES, 

JULY  4,  1885.  Chairman  of  Executive  Committee. 

PROGRAMME. 

At  an  early  hour  a  National  salute  will  be  fired  from  Fort  Stephen- 
son  Park;  other  salutes  will  be  fired  at  proper  times  during  the  day  by 
Capt.  O.  J.  Hopkins'  battery.  The  grand  procession  will  form  at  10' 
o'clock  a.  m.,  in  the  following  order: 

FIRST   DIVISION. 

1.  Fire  Police. 

2.  Sixteenth  Regiment  Band. 

3.  Companies  G.  Norwalk,  Capt.  W.  S.  Wick  ham  ;  D.  Fostoria,  Capt.  G. 

R.  Aylesworth ;  B.  Sandusky  City,  Capt.  E.  B.  King  and  I.  Clyde,. 
Capt.  M.  B.  Lemmon,  under  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Keyes. 

4.  Monumental  Committee  and  invited  guests  in  carriages. 

5.  County  and  city  officials  in  carriages. 

The  first  division  will  form  on  Main  street  with  right  resting  on  State  street. 
Marshal  of  1st  Division,  CAPT.  C,  H.  McCLEARY. 

SECOND  DIVISION. 

1.  Miller's  Clyde  Band. 

2.  Masons. 

3.  Odd  Fellows. 

4.  Knights  of  Pythias. 

5.  Knights  of  Honor. 

6.  German  Aid. 

7.  St.  Ann's  Cadets. 

8.  St.  Ann's  T.  A.  B.  Society. 

9.  Emerald  Beneficial  Society. 
10.  All  other  Beneficial  Societies. 

The  second  division  will  form  on  Garrison  St.  with  right  resting  on  Main  St.. 
Marshal  of  2d  Division,  CAPT.  H.  G.  STAHL. 


11 

THIRD  DIVISION. 

1.  National  Union  Band. 

2.  Sons  of  Veterans. 

3.  Soldiers  of  the  Mexican  War. 

4.  Grand  Army  Posts  in  the  numerical  order  of  the  Posts. 

5.  All  other  Soldiers  and  Sailors  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion. 

6.  Citizens. 

The  third  division  will  form  on  Croghan  street  with  right  resting  on  Main  street. 
Marshal  of  3d  Division,  CAPT.  G.  F.  WILLIAMS. 

THE    LINE   OP   MARCH 

Will  be  from  State  to  Front  street,  Front  street  to  Birchard  avenue,  Birchard 
avenue  to  Monroe  street,  Monroe  street  to  Croghan  street,  Croghan  street  to  Fort 
Stephenson  Park,  where  the  following  exercises  will  be  held  : 

1.  Music  by  National  Union  Band. 

2.  -  Prayer  by  Rev.  Lyman  E;  Prentiss. 

3.  Song., 

4.  Address  and  Unveiling  of  the  Monument  by  Gen.  E.  P.  Buckland. 

5.  Salute  by  Hopkins'  Battery. 

EXERCISES   AT   COURT   HOUSE  PARK    WILL   BEGIN    AT   1:30   P.  M. 


1.  Assembly  called  to  order,  with  remarks,  by  the  President  of  the  Day, 

Gen.  K  B.  Hayes. 

2.  Prayer  by  Rev.  J.  I.  Swander. 

3.  Song. 

4.  Address  by  Capt.  J.  M.  Lemmon,  Historian  of  the  Society. 

5.  Music  and  Song. 

6.  Poem  by  Capt.  Andrew  C.  Kemper. 

7.  Music. 

8.  Address  by  Maj.  Gen.  J.  D.  Cox,  Orator  of  the  Day. 

9.  Music  and  Song. 

10.  Addresses  by  distinguished  guests. 

11.  Music  and  Song. 

12.  Benediction. 

Headquarters  have  been  established  as  follows :  Monumental  Committee 
at  High  Sch'ool  building,  City  officers  at  City  Hall,  County  officers  at  Court 
House,  16th  Regiment  at  Opera  Hall,  G.  A.  R.  at  Post  Halls,  other  civil  societies 
at  the  various  halls  of  the  societies. 

Aids  to  Grand  Marshal  :      W.  P.  Haynes,  Geo.  Buckland. 
By  order  of  Committee. 

J.  L.  GREENE, 

Or  and  Marshal.- 


12 
THE  UNVEILING. 

The  unveiling  ceremonies  took  place  on  Saturday,  August  1,  1885. 
The  morning  opened  clear  and  hot,  and  before  noon  the  mercury  was 
soaring  in  the  nineties.  At  an  early  hour  the  people  from  the  country 
commenced  gathering  in  town,  and  the  streets  were  soon  a  scene  of 
activity  and  excitement.  The  incoming  trains  on  all  the  railroads 
brought  hundreds  of  people.  Military  companies  and  bands  of  music 
marched  and  counter-marched,  and  the  beating  of  drums,  the  tramp 
of  feet,  the  rumble  of  carriages  and  the  cheers  of  the  people  resounded 
on  all  sides.  The  guests  were  met  at  the  depot  upon  arrival  and 
escorted  to  their  various  headquarters.  The  crowd  has  been  variously 
estimated,  but  we  think  it  is  not  far  out  of  the  way  to  say  that  the 
people  on  the  streets  of  Fremont  last  Saturday,  including  our  own 
citizens,  numbered  15,000.  Among  the  distinguished  guests  present 
were  Senators  Sherman  and  Payne,  ex-Governor  Chas  Foster,  Judge 
•J.  B.  Foraker,  Gen.  Kobert  P.  Kennedy,  Major-General  J.  D.  Cox, 
Dr.  Andrew  C.  Kemper,  of  Cincinnati ;  Gen.  Beatty,  Gen.  Gros- 
venor,  Capt.  Botsfbrd,  of  Youngstown;  Gen.  J  C.  Lee,  Gen.  M.  D. 
Leggett,  Hon.  W.  D.  Hill,  Gen.  J.  W.  Fuller,  Gen  Chas.  Young,  Judge 
Haynes,  and  Clark  Waggoner,  of  Toledo;  Rev.  Dr.  Bushnell,  Hon. 
Dudley  Baldwin,  Cleveland ;  Judge  C.  P.  Wickham,  of  Norwalk ; 
D.  R.  Locke,  (Nasby);  W.  W.  Armstrong;  Gen.  J.  M.  Coraly,  Hon. 
I.  F.  Mack,  Hon.  Orrin  Follett,  Hon  E.  B.  Sadler,  Col.  C.  M.  Keyes, 
of  Sandusky;  Gen.  T.  W.  Sanderson,  Youngstown;  Capt  D.  M. 
Harkness,  Bellevue;  Capt.  Hopkins,  Toledo;  Capt.  D  L.  Cochley, 
Shelby;  Gen.  John  S.  Casement,  Painesville ;  Judge  Wm.  Lang, 
Hon.  R.  G.  Pennington,  Tiffin;  James  Winans,  Toledo;  Rev.  Dr.  A. 
G.  Byers,  Columbus;  Judge  Wm.  Caldwell,  Gen.  Frank  Sawyer. 

THE  PROCESSION. 

The  Lake  Shore  train  from  the  east,  and  L.  E.  &  W.  from  San- 
dusky,  and  an  excursion  train  from  Lima  and  intermediate  points  on 
the  L.  E.  &  W.,  arrived  at  about  the  same  time,  shortly  after  10 
o'clock.  The  procession  was  immediately  formed,  and  skillfully 
managed  throughout  its  entire  course  by  Capt.  John  L.  Greene,  the 
Grand  Marshal,  and  his  efficient  Aids.  The  line  of  march  was  on 
State  street  from  Main  to  Front,  thence  to  Birchard  avenue,  west  on 
that  street  to  Monroe,  across  to  Croghan  and  then  east  to  Fort  Stephen- 
.son  Park  and  terminated. 


13 
FIRST    DIVISION. 

Capt.  C.  H.  McCleary,  of  Clyde,  Marshal. 

Fremont  Fire  Department. 
Sixteenth  Regiment  Band,  Fostoria. 

Ohio  National  Guard,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Keyes. 
Company  G,  Norwalk,  Capt.  W.  S.  Wickham; 
Company  D,  Fostoria,  Capt.  G.  R.  Aylesworth ; 
Company  B,  Sandusky  City,  Capt.  E.  B.  King; 
Company  I,  Clyde,  Capt.  M.  B.  Leramon. 
Monumental  Association  and  invited  guests  in  carriages. 

County  and  city  officials  in  carriages. 
Officials  of  all  the  towns  and  villages  in  the  county  in  carriages.. 


SECOND  DIVISION. 


Capt.  H.  G.  Stahl,  Marshal. 

Miller's  Band,  Clyde. 
Croghan  and  McPherson  Lodges,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Knights  of  Pythias,  Clyde. 

Fremont  and  Hurnboldt  Lodges,  K.  of  H. 

Fremont  German  Aid  Society. 

St.  Ann's  Cadets. 

St.  Ann's  Total  Abstinence  Society. 
Emerald  Beneficial  Society. 


THIRD  DIVISION. 


Capt.  G.  F.  Williams,  Marshal. 

National  Union  Band. 

Chester  A.  Buckland  Camp,  Sons  of  Veterans. 

Croghan  Post,  No.  1,  Mexican  Veterans. 

McMeens  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Sandusky. 

Drum  Corps. 

Eugene  Rawson  Post,  U.  A.  R.,  Fremont. 
Forsyth  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Toledo. 
Oak  Harbor  Post,  G.  A.  R. 
Eaton  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Clyde. 
Potter  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Green  Spring. 
Norris  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Fostoria. 
Lindsey  Post,  G.  A.  R. 
Joseph  Powell  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Bettsville. 
Manville  Moore  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Fremont. 
The  Aides  to  the  Grand  Marshal  were  W.  P.  Haynes  and  George  Buckland1.. 


14 
THE  DECORATIONS. 

With  perhaps  one  exception  Fremont  was  never  so  handsomely 
•or  so  generally  decorated.     Looking  up.  and  down  the  streets  at  the 
corner  of  Front  and  Croghan  the  sight  was  a  beautiful  one.     Flags 
and  banners  swung  across  the  streets  and  fluttered  from  the  roofs  and 
windows  of  the  buildings.     The  fronts  of  blocks  were  draped  with 
bunting  and  with  flags,  and  show  windows  were  most  elaborately  and 
tastefully  trimmed.     Along  the  line  of  march   the  decorations  were 
particularly  fine,  but  there  was  scarcely  a  home  or  business  house  in 
the  city  which  did  not  contribute  in  some  way  to  the  city's  gala  day 
appearance.     Coming  down  Croghan  street  the  residences  were  prettily 
decorated.     The  new  St  Joseph's  Church,  with  its  spire  rising  250  feet 
above  the  pavement,  was  a  glorious  sight ;  flags  waved  from  windows 
near  the  summit  and  bunting  was  draped  downward  from  a  great 
height.     The  stand  pipe,  the  High  School  building,  which  was  used  as 
the  headquarters  of  the  Monumental  Association  for  the  reception  of 
invited  guests,  Birchard  Library  and  the  City  Hall,  were  conspicuous 
for  their  decorations.     Over  Croghan  street  near  the  City  Hall  was  a 
triumphal  arch,  elaborately  gotten  up,  surmounted  by  an  eagle  of  gilt, 
decked  with  flags  and  ornamented  by  pictures  of  Fort  Stephenson  as 
it  appeared  in  1813,  the  cannon  Betsey  Croghan  which  was  used  in  the 
defense  of  the  fort,  Ft.  Sumpter  and  a  battle  scene.     The  halls  of 
Rawson  and  Moore  Posts,  Buckland's  new  block,  the  Hayes  block,  the 
National  Bank  building,  Rice's  block,  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  hall,  are  deserv- 
ing of  special  praise  lor  their  fine  appearance.     The  banner  swung 
across  Front  street  by  Edna  Council,  N.  U.,  elicited  great  admiration. 
The  window  in  Heim  &  Richard's  dry  goods  store,  is  noteworthy  among 
the  many  splendid  window  decorations.     Along  the  line  of  march  on 
State  street  and  on  Birchard  avenue,  the  citizens  showed  their  patriot- 
ism and  good  taste ;  the  decorations  at  the  residences  near  Diamond 
Park  were  particularly  striking. 

A  tinge  of  sadness  was  visible  throughout  the  general  rejoicing 
and  gay  colors.  Two  weeks  since,  the  great  hero  of  the  war,  the  con> 
mander  of  the  American  armies,  passed  away.  The  sombre  emblems 
of  mourning  mingled  with  the  bright  decorations,  and  his  portraits 
were  seen  on  every  hand. 

The  march  completed,  the  procession  halted  at  Fort  Stephenson 
Park  and  gathered  at  the  monument,  while  the  people  filled  the  streets 
adjoining.  The  Society  colors  and  the  flags  of  the  Grand  Army  Posts 
were  massed  at  the  base  of  the  shaft.  The  National  Union  Band 


15 

played  "  The  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  after  which  Gen.  Rutherford  B. 
Hayes  called  the  people  to  order  and  Rev.  Lyman  E.  Prentiss,  pastor 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  this  city,  offered  a  fervent  prayer  : 

O,  thou  most  worthy  Lord,  our  Heavenly  Father,  we  acknowledge 
that  we  are  unworthy  of  presenting  to  thee  any  offering  of  our  hands 
or  heart,  yet  we  come  to  thee,  now  praying  that  thy  blessing  be  upon 
us,  imploring  that  thou  wilt  hear  us  and  bless  us.  We  thank  thee 
that  we  are  permitted  to  stand  upon  this  ground  made  sacred  to  our 
memory  in  the  history  of  this  county  because  of  the  victory  thou  dids't 
give  for  those  who  fought  for  liberty  here.  We  thank  thee  that  we 
still  cherish  for  those  brave  men  that  respect  which  nothing  can  ever 
remove.  We  thank  thee  that  thou  hast  permitted  us  to  so  cherish  their 
memory  as  to  erect  here  this  monument,  not  only  to  the  memory  of 
those  who  fought  on  that  occasion,  but  to  the  memory  of  all  the  brave 
soldiers  of  our  county,  and  we  pray  now  that  thou  wilt  let  thy  choicest 
blessing  rest  upon  us  as  we  attend  to  the  sacred  and  solemn  duties  of 
the  hour.  We  pray  thee  to  let  thy  blessing  rest  upon  all  who  have  in 
any  way  advanced  this  enterprise.  Let  thy  blessing  rest  upon  those 
brave  men  here  to-day,  who  fought  the  battles  of  their  country  in  the 
wars  of  the  past.  Be  near  all  such.  And  we  pray  thy  special  blessing 
upon  the  one  remaining  hero  of  the  battle  of  1813,  in  his  old  age,  in 
his  distant  home  far  from  this  ground.  We  pray  that  thou  wilt  let  thy 
blessing  rest  upon  him.  We  thank  thee  that  we  live  in  a  country 
where  not  only  the  great  and  those  that  have  occupied  conspicuous 
places  in  the  gift  of  the  nation  are  honored,  but  also  those  who  have 
done  their  duty  in  an  humbler  sphere. 

We  pray  that  while  we  are  mourning  the  death  of  the  greatest 
hero  of  the  nation  we  may  also  honor  the  privates  who  fell  in  defence 
of  their  country.  O  God,  make  us  a  nation  that  shall  honor  the 
people  who  are  faithful  to  their  trusts,  as  well  as  those  who  are  great. 
Bless  the  exercises  of  the  day.  Bless  us  as  a  country.  Let  thy  bless- 
ing rest  upon  the  multitude  gathered  here.  Bless  us  as  a  nation,  and 
especially  now,  in  our  hours  of  mourning  for  General  Grant.  Bless 
his  family.  Bless  us  all  in  this  hour  of  bereavement.  Bless  the  officers 
who  have  charge  of  these  exercises  today;  especially  bless  General 
Buckland,  who  for  so  many  years  has  stood  before  this  people,  now  in 
his  declining  years.  Hear  us  now.  Let  thy  work  appear  unto  thy 
servants,  and  thy  glory  unto  thy  children.  O,  let  the  beauty  of  the 
Lord  God  be  upon  us ;  establish  thou  the  work  of  our  hands.  Yea, 
the  work  of  our  hands  establish  thou  it.  And  to  the  Father,  Son  and 
Holy  Ghost  be  endless  praises.  Amen. 

"America"  was  then  sung,  James  L.   Pease,  of  Toledo,  leading. 


16 

General  Ralph  P.  Buckland  was  introduced,  and  at  the  close  of  his 
address  unveiled  the  monument.     He  spoke  as  follows: 

GEN.  R.  P.  BUCKLAND'S  ADDRESS. 

We  are  assembled  here  to-day  on  this  historic  ground  to  do  honor 
to  the  brave  soldiers  of  Sandusky  County,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
celebrate  the  glorious  victory  of  Major  George  Croghan  and  his  gallant 
band  of  heroes  in  defeating  the  combined  forces  of  British  and  Indians 
under  Proctor  and  Tecumseh,  on  the  2d  of  August,  1813. 

The  heroic  and  patriotic  devotion  of  Major  Croghan  and  his  brave 
men,  in  their  derermination  to  hold  and  defend  Fort  Stephenson  to  the 
last  man,  has  never  been  surpassed  in  the  annals  of  warfare,  not  even  by 
the  world-renowned  Spartan  band  at  Thermopylae. 

The  people  of  Fremont  have  dedicated  this  ground,  so  heroically 
defended  by  them,  to  their  memory  forever;  and  the  people  of  San- 
dusky  County  have  further  consecrated  it  by  erecting  hereon  a  beauti- 
ful monument  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  own  brave  soldiers, 
as  well  as  that  of  the  heroes  of  Fort  Stephenson. 

This  nation,  during  the  first  one  hundred  years  of  its  existence, 
besides  numerous  conflicts  with  the  aboriginal  savages,  was  involved  in 
four  notable  and  successful  wars  ;  the  Revolutionary  war,  the  war  of 
1812  with  Great  Britain,  the  Mexican  war,  and  the  war  of  the  great 
rebellion. 

The  heroes  of  the  Revolution  have  all  passed  away,  and  very  few 
of  the  war  of  1812  are  still  living ;  not  one  is  here  with  us  to-day. 
Sergeant  Wm.  Gaines  is  the  only  surviving  hero  of  Fort  Stephenson, 
and  all  regret  that  he  could  not  be  here  to  receive  the  plaudits  of  this 
great  concourse  of  people ;  but  we  have  before  us  the  only  cannon  that 
Major  Croghan  had  at. the  battle  of  Fort  Stephenson,  which  was  voted 
by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  to  this  city  to  be  preserved  as  a 
sacred  memento  of  that  battle. 

For  the  Mexican  War  Sandusky  County  furnished  one  company, 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  E.  D.  Bradley,  and  one  under  Capt. 
Samuel  Thompson,  who  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
wounded  at  Lundy's  Lane  under  General  Scott.  This  occasion  is 
honored  by  the  presence  of  twenty-five  surviving  heroes  of  that  war. 

The  surviving  soldiers  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  are  yet  numer- 
ous, but  are  rapidly  being  mustered  out.  This  great  nation  is  at  this 
moment  in  mourning  for  the  death  of  the  great  General  of  the  war, 
whose  great  military  genius  and  achievements  have  received  the  applause 
of  all  nations. 


17 

Sandusky  County  responded  promptly  to  the  first  call  by  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  for  volunteers,  in  April,  1861,  by  enlisting 
and  organizing  within  three  days  two  companies  commanded  by  Cap- 
tains George  M.  Tillotson  and  Wm.  E.  Haynes,  for  the  8th  Ohio 
Regiment.  That  regiment  fought  with  distinguished  bravery  in 
seventy-six  battles  and  skirmishes;  and  at  the  great  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, under  the  command  of  its  gallant  Colonel,  Frank  Sawyer,  it 
achieved  immortal  renown  by  charging  and  driving  superior  numbers 
of  the  enemy  from  an  important  position  in  front  of  the  Union  linesr 
and  holding  it  for  nearly  two  days,  and  until  the  victorious  close  of  the 
battle,  against  the  repeated  assaults  of  the  enemy.  In  this  affair  the 
regiment  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  nearly  one-half  of  its  number 
engaged.  After  the  victory  was  won,  as  the  survivors  of  this  gallant 
band  of  heroes  passed  to  the  rear,  they  were  enthusiastically  cheered 
by  the  surrounding  Union  troops. 

At  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  on  the  morning  of  the  6th  of  April, 
1862,  the  72nd  Ohio,  organized  at  Fremont  and  largely  composed  of 
Sandusky  County  men,  occupied  the  right  of  Buckland's  Brigade  of 
General  Sherman's  Division.  That  brigade,  repulsed,  with  great 
slaughter  of  the  enemy,  repeated  charges  by  greatly  superior  numbers, 
and  only  retired  by  order  of  General  Sherman  after  all  the  rest  of  the 
Union  line  attacked  by  the  enemy  had  been  driven  back. 

Confederate  General  Basil  Duke,  in  an  article  on  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  says  of  this  brigade:  "Every  demonstration  against  it  was 
repulsed;  artillery  was  used  in  vain  against  it;  some  of  the  best 
brigades  of  the  army  moved  on  it  only  to  be  hurled  back,  and  strew 
the  morass  in  its  front  with  their  dead.  The  Confederate  loss  at  this 
point  was  frightful.  At  last,  after  having  held  the  position  from  7  or 
7:30  A.  M.  until  after  10  A.  M.,  and  every  thing  on  its  left  having  been 
driven  back,  and  thet  Confederate  artillery  having  reached  a  point 
where  its  guns  could  play  upon  its  rear,  it  was  abandoned  as  no  longer 
tenable." 

Major  Eugene  Rawson,  born  and  raised  in  Fremont,  fought  as  a 
private  soldier  in  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  after  fighting  at 
Shiloh,  Corinth,  Vicksburg,  and  many  other  places,  was  mortally 
wounded  in  battle  in  Mississippi  whilst  commanding  the  72d  Ohio. 

Major-General  James  B.  McPherson,  killed  in  front  of  Atlanta  in 
command  of  the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  one  of  General  Grant's 
most  reliable  Generals,  was  born  in  Clyde,  Saudusky  County,  on  the 
ground  where  his  surviving  comrades  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee 
have  erected  to  his  memory  a  beautiful  and  life-like  statue. 


18 

Sandusky  County  men  enlisted  in  many  other  regiments  and  com- 
panies, but  I  must  not  stop  here  to  enumerate  them  or  to  recite  their 
many  heroic  deeds.  Sandusky  County  was  represented  by  her  soldiers 
in  all  the  great  Union  armies  and  in  the  Navy,  and  in  nearly  every 
great  battle  of  the  war  from  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run  to  the  battle 
of  Nashville;  in  McClellan's  campaigns ;  in  Grant's  battles  of  the 
Wilderness ;  and  in  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea.  It  is  sufficient  for  me 
to  say  here  that  everywhere  they  performed  their  duties  courageously 
and  well.  On  more  than  a  hundred  battle  fields  they  shed  their  blood 
and  laid  down  their  lives,  to  save  our  glorious  Union  of  States,  and 
our  free  institutions.  Many  of  their  surviving  comrades,  and  this 
great  assembly  of  people  are  here  to-day  to  honor  their  sacred  memory. 
Sandusky  County  has  reason  to  be  proud  of  her  soldiers. 

And  now,  on  behalf  and  in  the  name  of  all  the  people  of  San- 
dusky County,  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  heroes  of  Fort 
Stephenson,  and  the  memory  of  Sandusky  County's  brave  soldiers  in 
the  Mexican  war  and  in  the  great  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  their 
patriotic  sacrifices  for  our  country,  I  unveil  and  dedicate  this  beautiful 
monument. 

As  the  flag,  which  enveloped  the  statue,  fell,  and  the  monument 
stood  revealed  in  all  its  beauty,  a  mighty  cheer  went  up  from  the 
assembled  multitude.  O.  J.  Hopkins'  battery  thundered  forth  a  salute, 
and  the  music  of  bands  mingled  with  the  shouts  of  the  people.  Mean- 
while the  sky  had  become  overcast  and  at  this  juncture  the  rain  drops 
commenced  to  fall.  The  people  hurriedly  dispersed  to  dinner ;  the 
invited  guests  to  the  houses  of  certain  of  our  citizens;  the  veterans 
and  many  others  to  the  places  where  dinner  was  served  by  Moore  and 
Rawson  Posts ;  the  City  Council  and  their  guests,  the  town  and  village 
officers,  to  the  Ball  House ;  the  militia  to  the  Ball  House,  and  the 
balance  of  the  crowd  to  the  hotels,  restaurants,  lunch  stands  and  their 
homes. 

AFTERNOON  EXERCISES. 


Upon  re-assembling  at  the  Court  House  Park  at  1:30  P.  M.,  the 
weather  was  still  more  threatening.  A  platform  to  accommodate  two 
hundred  persons  had  been  erected  near  the  stand  pipe  and  was  occupied 
by  the  invited  guests,  officials,  ladies  and  members  of  the  press.  Seats 
adjoining  the  platform  had  been  provided  for  nearly  a  thousand  others, 
and  the  seats  were  filled  while  hundreds  stood  near  the  speaker's  stand. 
General  Hayes,  President  of  the  Day,  called  the  assembly  to  order, 


19 

and  the  song,  "Marching  Through  Georgia,"  was  rendered  by  the 
male  chorus  who  had  charge  of  the  vocal  music.  At  the  conclusion  of 
the  song,  General  Hayes  said  : 

That  was  a  very  pleasant  song,  fellow-citizens,  but  I  do  not  know 
how  it  sounds  to  all  ears,  for  we  are  honored  here  to-day  by  the  pres- 
ence of  a  Confederate  from  Georgia.  I  will  introduce  him  to  you. 

As  the  cheers  of  the  audience  resounded,  a  large,  well  built,  intel- 
ligent looking  man  arose  near  the  center  of  the  platform  and  bowed  to 
the  audience.  His  name  is  James  Lachlison,  of  Darien,  Georgia.  He 
was  Captain  of  a  company  of  Georgia  volunteers,  was  taken  prisoner 
and  for  seven  months,  in  1863,  was  confined  on  Johnson's  Island. 

''John  Brown's  Body"  was  next  sung  and  lustily  cheered,  after 
which  General  R.  B.  Hayes  said  : 

FELLOW  CITIZENS  :  The  occasion  which  has  brought  together 
this  large  assemblage  has  a  two-fold  interest.  On  the  spot  where  Major 
George  Croghan  and  his  gallant  little  band  seventy-two  years  ago  suc- 
cessfully defended  Fort  Stephenson  against  a  largely  superior  force  of 
British  Regulars  and  Indians  under  Proctor,  the  people  of  Sandusky 
County  have  built  a  monument  in  honor  of  their  fellow-citizens,  living 
and  dead,  who  faithfully  served  in  the  army  of  the  Union.  The  date 
and  place  of  our  meeting  and  the  unveiling  of  this  soldiers'  monument 
remind  us  of  two  inspiring  events — one  of  limited  and  perhaps  local 
significance  merely,  and  the  other  of  a  character  which  rivets  the 
attention  of  all  mankind. 

The  simple  ceremonies  we  have  witnessed  in  this  place,  on  this 
anniversary  recall  the  men,  the  events  and  the  scenes  of  the  old  pioneer 
days  of  the  Northwest  Territory.  They  also  vividly  recall  those  never 
to  be  forgotten  heroic  days  of  1861-1865,  when  the  great  questions  of 
Liberty  and  of  National  life  were  submitted  to  the  God  of  Battles. 

Intimately  associated  with  Croghan's  victory  are  the  favorite 
names  of  the  pioneer  history  of  the  West.  General  Harrison,  Com- 
modore Perry,  General  Cass,  General  McArthur,  Colonel  Richard  M. 
Johnson,  Governor  Meigs,  Governor  Tiffin,  and  a  long  list  of  other 
able  men  whose  names  were  household  words  in  the  homes  of  the  first 
settlers  of  this  region,  were  all  closely  identified  with  the  military  events 
which  hinged  upon  the  brilliant  victory  which  was  gained  here,  and 
which  decided  the  struggle  for  the  vast  and  noble  territory  which  is 
tributary  to  the  great  lakes  of  the  Northwest.  That  I  do  not  over- 
state the  importance  of  the  brilliant  event  which  gives  a  place  in  his- 
tory to  our  little  city  of  Fremont,  I  read  you  a  few  paragraphs  from 
letters  to  one  of  our  committee  by  Colonel  Charles  Whittlesey,  of 


20 

Cleveland,  and  by  General  Sherman.  With  an  honorable  record  as  a 
Union  soldier,  Colonel  Whittlesey  is  still  more  widely  known  as  the 
indefatigable  and  learned  local  historian  of  this  part  of  our  country. 
He  says : 

"Your  polite  invitation  brings  in  review  a  number  of  historical 
events  connected  with  your  city,  that  have  occurred  during  the  past 
century.  The  rapids  at  Lower  Sandusky,  where  Fremont  now  is,  put 
a  stop  to  the  expedition  of  Colonel  Bradstreet  in  October,  1764,  on  its 
way  to  join  Colonel  Bouquet  at  the  forks  of  the  Muskingum. 

"  During  the  war  of  the  revolution  many  of  the  expeditions  of  the 
British  and  their  Indian  allies,  passed  up  the  Sandusky  River,  to  attack 
the  frontier  settlements.  In  the  fall  of  1781,  the  Moravian  Missions 
on  the  Tuscarawas  under  Zeisberger,  were  forced  away  from  their  posts, 
to  the  towns  on  the  Sandusky,  and  thence  to  Detroit.  Indian  and 
English  war  parties  passed  up  the  river  to  join  in  the  battle  against 
Colonel  Crawford,  near  Upper  Sandusky,  in  June,  1782.  The  first 
Protestant  Mission  among  the  Wyandots,  and  the  first  United  States 
Agency,  were  located  at  the  lower  rapids  in  1803  and  1808,  their  build- 
ings forming  part  of  the  Fort  constructed  in  1812.  The  first  company 
drafted  on  the  Reserve  in  April,  1812,  under  Captain  John  Campbell 
was  ordered  there,  and  assisted  in  completing  the  Fort. 

"  But  all  these  interesting  events,  culminated  in  the  unparalleled 
discomfiture  of  the  British  and  Indians,  in  August,  1813,  by  a  young 
major  of  Kentucky,  acting  against  orders.  Nothing  can  be  more 
appropriate  than  the  celebration  of  a  defence  so  brilliant  and  complete, 
and  the  erection  of  a  durable  monument  to  fix  the  spot  forever." 

General  Sherman,  writing  to  the  Committee,  points  out  in  his  terse 
way  the  strategic  value  of  the  triumphant  defence  of  Fort  Stephenson. 
He  says : 

"  The  defence  of  Fort  Stephenson  by  Croghan  and  his  gallant  little 
band  was  the  necessary  precursor  to  Perry's  victory  on  the  Lake  and  of 
General  Harrison's  triumphant  victory  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames. 
These  assured  to  our  immediate  ancestors  the  mastery  of  the  Great 
West,  and  from  that  day  to  this  the  West  has  been  the  bulwark  of  the 
nation. 

"The  occasion  is  worthy  a  monument  to  the  skies  and  nothing 
could  be  more  congenial  to  me  personally  than  to  assist." 

Happy  as  we  are  in  the  time  and  place  of  our  celebration,  its  chief 
attraction  is,  however,  the  dedication  of  a  monument  to  the  soldiers  of 
the  Union. 

The  first  on   the   list   of   the   soldiers  of   the  Union  whom  our 


21 

countrymen  delight  to  honor,  and  the  first  to  reply  to  the  invitation  of 
the  committee  appointed  for  this  occasion,  was  the  truest  representative 
and  the  best  type  of  the  loyal  American  soldier.  His  reply  to  the  in- 
vitation is  as  follows : 

"  MT.   MCGREGOR,  July  14,  1885. 

"  GENTLEMEN  : — General  Grant  directs  me  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  soldiers'  monument  in  Fre- 
mont on  the  1st  of  August,  and  to  convey  to   you  his  heartfelt  thanks  for  the 
kind  expressions  contained  therein  personal  to  himself. 
"  Very  Respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant,  N.  E.  DAWSON." 

Since  this  letter  was  written  the  great  soldier  has  been  relieved 
from  the  suffering  which  he  bore  with  such  patient  and  noble  fortitude. 
The  nation  he  did  so  much  to  save  is  tearfully,  but  gratefully  and 
proudly  preparing  to  perform  the  last  sad  offices  in  honor  of  her  match- 
less warrior  and  best  loved  citizen.  The  monument  we  dedicate  here, 
every  monument  to  the  citizen  soldier  of  the  Union,  is  a  monument 
that  reminds  us  of  the  deeds  and  virtues  of  General  Grant.  Although 
trained  as  a  soldier,  the  war  found  him  a  citizen — it  made  him  again  a 
soldier,  and  in  his  last  years  he  was  once  more  a  citizen.  He  was 
simple,  sincere,  just,  magnanimous  and  pure,  and  to  these  high  quali- 
ties were  added  by  nature  with  lavish  prodigality  an  iron  determina- 
tion, an  unyielding  tenacity  of  purpose,  and  a  serene  and  heroic 
mastery  of  all  his  faculties  in  the  midst  of  responsibility,  danger  and 
death  which  fitted  him  above  any  other  living  man  for  the  command  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  in  whose  keeping  were  the  vast  and 
vital  interests  of  our  country  and  of  mankind.  Our  monument  in 
Fort  Stephenson  Park  in  Fremont  to  the  Union  soldiers  of  this  county 
— indeed,  every  monument  to  the  Union  soldier,  is  also  a  monument  to 
General  Grant.  In  like  manner  every  monument  to  General  Grant 
will  be  a  monument  to  the  men  of  the  armies  he  led.  His  name  and 
fame  and  their  name  and  fame  are  forever  linked  together.  Our 
country,  with  a  government  free  and  popular,  but  strong  enough  to 
maintain  its  authority  and  to  deJend  its  life ;  with  a  people  all  of  whom 
under  the  law  "have  an  equal  start  and  a  iair  chance,"  bound  to- 
gether— "an  indestructible  union  of  indestructible  States;"  with  a 
present  population,  wealth,  power  and  prestige,  beyond  any  other 
civilized  Nation ;  and  with  a  future  far  transcending  in  its  possibilities 
all  that  the  world  has  known  in  the  past — this  country  is  at  once  the 
reward,  and  the  monument  of  the  Union  soldiers  and  of  their  great 
and  beloved  commander,  General  Grant. 


After  the  speech  of  General  Hayes  and  singing  by  the  choir,  the 
proceedings  of  the  afternoon  were  opened  with  prayer  by  Rev.  J.  I. 
Swander,  pastor  of  the  Reform  Church,  Fremont,  Ohio,,  as  follows : 

We  praise  thee,  O  God.  All  the  pure  intelligence  of  the  uni- 
verse acknowledge  thee  to  be  the  Lord.  Thou  hast  made  of  one  b!ood 
all  nations  of  men  for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth.  We  re- 
joice that  thou  hast  permitted  us,  the  American  people,  to  assume 
among  them  a  separate  and  an  equal  station.  While  we  confess  our 
sins  as  the  cause  of  all  our  elements  of  weakness  we  acknowledge  thy 
sovereign  pleasure  and  goodness  as  the  primary  source  of  all  the 
achievements  of  our  past,  the  joys  of  our  present,  and  the  hopes  of  our 
future.  For  had  it  not  been  for  the  Lord,  who  was  on  our  side,  our 
enemies  would  have  swallowed  us  up  quickly  when  foreign  powers  and 
civil  discord  threatened  our  existence.  Thou  didst  give  us  strength  to 
overcome  foreign  oppression  and  to  resist  foreign  encroachment.  Thou 
didst  smile  upon  our  arms  when  the  star  of  our  Empire  turned  its 
course  toward  the  land  of  the  Montezumas.  When  sectional  jealousy 
and  unhallowed  ambition  for  the  supremacy  of.  political  peace  and 
power  arose  in  civil  strife  to  disrupt  our  Union  and  dismember  our 
sisterhood  of  States,  thou  didst  look  from  heaven,  maintain  the  strug- 
gling cause  of  Republican  government  and  demonstrate  on  earth  that 
the  principle  of  eternal  right  is  the  power  of  invincible  might. 

And  when  the  cruel  war  was  over — when  the  heroic  deeds  of  the 
great  had  passed  into  history — when  the  patriotic  souls  of  the  good  had 
gone  to  glory — thou  didst  quicken  the  sentiments  of  gratitude  in  those 
who  survived  to  enjoy  the  blessings  of  a  country  saved  by  blood.  We 
rejoice  that  the  people  of  Sandusky  County  had  both  the  opportunity 
and  disposition  to  bear  some  humble  part  with  the  nation's  living  in 
paying  tribute  to  the  nation's  dead.  Protected  by  Thy  Providence,  may 
the  monument  this  day  unveiled  stand  as  a  reminder  of  American  pat- 
riotism and  valor  until  man's  last  enemy  shall  fall.  Bless  all  our  sur- 
viving soldiers  and  the  widows  and  orphans  of  those  who  bore  the 
battle  and  fell  in  the  heat  of  the  fearful  conflict.  May  prosperity, 
peace  and  piety  be  their  guardian  angels  on  the  earth,  may  the  sun-set 
of  their  lives  be  full  of  prophetic  glory  ;  and  in  the  coming  crowning 
victory  may  heaven  be  their  exceeding  great  reward. 

Almighty  God,  with  whom  do  live  the  spirits  of  those  who  have 
departed  hence  in  the  Lord,  and  with  whom  the  souls  of  the  faithful 
are  in  joy  and  felicity,  we  entreat  thee  in  behalf  of  the  bereaved  family 
of  our  most  illustrious  citizen.  Look  in  compassion  toward  the  summit 
of  Mt.  McGregor.  May  the  bereaved  and  afflicted  ones  rest  their  sor- 


23 

rowful  souls  in  the  sweet  assurance  that  death  does  not  end  all  that 
there  is  of  us  and  for  us — that  heaven  is  the  land  of  all  the  really  free, 
and  the  home  of  all  the  truly  brave. 

Help  us  to  become  more  worthy  of  the  peculiar  blessings  we  now 
enjoy.  May  we  as  a  people  go  forward  and  upward  in  the  fulfillment 
of  our  honorable  and  responsible  mission  until  all  the  monarchies  and 
anarchies  of  the  world  shall  bow  with  admiration  and  respect  before 
the  superlative  majesty  of  the  American  Republic.  Hasten  the  time 
when  the  universal  reign  of  peace  shall  herald  the  dawn  of  that  illus- 
trious day  when  all  Thine  armies  shall  shine  in  robes  of  victory ;  and 
then,  O  God,  in  Christ,  the  glory  shall  be  Thine.  Amen. 

A  song  followed,  after  which  Captain  John  M.  Lemmon,  of  Clyde, 
the  historian  of  the  occasion,  was  introduced  and  delivered  an  interest- 
ing address,  which  will  form  a  valuable  addition  to  the  history  of  our 
county.  Soon  after  commencing  his  address  the  threatened  storm 
broke  and  the  assembly  adjourned  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  where 
the  exercises  of  the  day  were  concluded.  The  church  was  filled  to  its 
utmost  capacity.  Mr.  Lemmon's  address  was  as  follows : 

Sandusky  County  was  erected  by  act  of  February  12th,  1820,  and 
included  as  then  created  all  that  part  of  the  present  Ottawa  County 
lying  west  of  the  Firelands  and  also  a  part  of  Lucas ;  our  northern 
boundary  was  Lake  Erie.  Seneca  County  was  created  by  the  same  act 
and  was  attached  to  Sandusky. 

The  county  seat  was  temporarily  fixed  by  the  creative  act  at 
Croghansville,  until  commissioners  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly 
should  fix  the  permanent  seat  of  justice. 

Sandusky  County  as  thus  created  included  all  the  territory  north 
of  the  townships  numbered  three  (3)  north,  in  ranges  thirteen,  four- 
teen, fifteen,  sixteen,  and  seventeen — extending  to  the  north  boundary 
of  the  State. 

No  part  of  Seneca  County  was  ever  included  in  Sandusky.  The 
territory  erected  into  Sandusky  County  was  formerly  a  part  of  Huron 
County,  and  before  that  Cuyahoga  County. 

Ottawa  County  was  created  about  February,  1840,  and  since  that 
date  our  boundaries  have  remained  unchanged.  The  name  Sandusky 
comes  from  the  Indian  language,  and  signifies  cold  spring.  The 
original  spelling  is  quite  undetermined. 

The  seat  of  Justice  was  permanently  located  at  Sandusky  village, 
afterward  called  Lower  Sandusky,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  soon 
after  the  county  was  created,  and  now  Croghansville  and  Lower  San- 
dusky are  names  of  the  past,  and  in  their  place  we  have  the  city  of 
Fremont. 


24 

The  monument  we  unveil  to-day  stands  upon  the  site  of  Fort 
Stephenson,  sometimes  called  Fort  Sandusky.  The  fort  or  stockade 
seems  never  to  have  been  regarded  as  much  of  a  place  until  Major 
Croghan  so  gallantly  defended  it  on  August  2,  1813.  General  Har- 
rison wanted  to  abandon  it,  but  the  Major  declined  to  obey  and  de- 
clared he  could  hold  the  place — and  he  did.  The  fort  was  only  a 
stockade  with  a  moat  or  ditch  around  it. 

The  battle  of  Fort  Stephenson  was  one  of  those  successful  acci- 
dents that  often  result  in  the  course  of  war,  and  demonstrated  that  in 
war  real  pluck  and  heroism  count  for  more  than  strategy,  or  that  which 
is  commonly  called  generalship. 

In  1820,  Sandusky  County  (as  then  bounded)  had  a  population  of 
a  little  more  than  one  person  to  the  square  mile,  and  in  all  of  850 
souls.  It  was  on  the  border  line  between  the  settled  and  the  unsettled 
west,  but  its  people  were  of  patriotic  blood.  It  can  hardly  be  said 
that  the  early  settlers  were  distinctively  from  any  one  State.  Many 
were  from  the  State  of  New  York ;  in  the  eastern  portion  were  many 
from  Connecticut  and  other  New  England  States,  and  a  great  many  in 
all  parts  of  the  county  came  from  Pennsylvania.  There  were  early 
settlers  from  Maryland,  Virginia  and  other  States. 

The  prospects  of  these  early  settlers  were  for  many  years  extremely 
bad — indeed,  gloomy.  The  county  was  densely  timbered;  the  land 
was  considered  low  and  wet ;  the  roads  were  bad  ;  markets  were  few 
and  far  away;  sickness  was  abundant.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  more  than 
one-half  the  early  settlers  became  discouraged  and  abandoned  the 
country.  They  had  little  idea  of  what  Sandusky  County  would  be  in 
1885.  It  was  only  the  brave,  the  stout-hearted,  who  remained,  with 
possibly  a  few  who  were  too  poor  to  get  away. 

Among  these  early  settlers  were  many  of  the  soldiers  of  the  war 
of  1812.  When  a  mere  boy  I  have  sat  many  a  time  on  my  grand- 
father's knee  as  he  told  me  what  he  saw  and  heard  while  a  volunteer 
in  the  war.  Every  neighborhood  had  its  veteran  of  that  war. 

But  the  courage  and  the  industry  of  these  early  settlers  overcame 
all  difficulties,  and  Sandusky  County  became  great  and  strong  and  pop- 
ulous. She  produced  great  statesmen,  great  generals,  and  a  great 
army  of  most  gallant  soldiers. 

From  a  population  of  852  in  1820,  we  reached  21,429  in  1860, 
with  one-third  our  territory  cut  off  to  create  Ottawa  County.  In  1870 
we  numbered  25,503,  and  in  1880,  32,057. 

When  war  arose  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  San- 
dusky County  furnished  its  share  of  volunteer  soldiers.  One  full  com- 
pany under  Captain  Samuel  Thompson — who  was  in  the  war  of  1812 


and  wounded  at  Limdy's  Lane — was  raised.  The  company  was  com- 
posed of  four  commissioned  officers,  and  seventy-six  privates,  and  be- 
came part  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry — Col. 
Chas.  H.  Brough. 

This  regiment  went  from  Cincinnati  to  New  Orleans,  thence  to 
Brazos  Santiago  and  from  that  point  marched  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Rio  Grande  and  was  transported  thence  to  Vera  Cruz — where  it  became 
part  of  the  brigade  of  Major-General  Joseph  Lane,  September  19, 
1847,  the  command  marched  for  the  interior  and  reached  Jalapa, 
September  30,  1847,  and,  I  believe,  was  engaged  in  battle  under  Lane 
in  the  streets  of  Pueblo,  when  Santa  Anna  made  his  attempt  to  recap- 
ture that  place  September  22,  1847.  Colonel  Childs  was  commanding 
the  post  or  fort  there — had  been  attacked  and  General  Lane  came  to 
his  relief  and  drove  the  Mexicans  from  the  place. 

June  2,  1848,  the  regiment  left  Pueblo  on  its  return  home. 

Besides  this,  Captain  Edwin  D.  Bradley  and  J.  A.  Jones,  recruited 
a  number  of  men  for  the  Mexican  war  in  this  county.  I  have  found 
the  names  of  eighteen  volunteers  besides  those  who  went  out  with 
Thompson.  In  all,  I  believe,  there  were  at  least  110  men  who  volun- 
teered from  Sandusky  County  for  the  Mexican  war. 

I  should  have  mentioned  the  bloodless  Michigan  war — for  San- 
dusky  County  furnished  a  brigadier  general  and  one  regiment  of  militia 
and  many  heroes  for  it.  This  "war"  grew  out  of  the  question  of 
boundary  between  Ohio  and  Michigan.  Ohio  claimed  to  the  present 
line,  and  Michigan  (then  a  territory)  claimed  the  line  should  be  some 
ten  miles  further  south — thus  including  the  present  site  of  Toledo  within 
Michigan.  The  dispute  waxed  warm.  In  April,  1835,  General  John 
Bell — then  Brigadier-General  of  Ohio  Militia,  afterwards  Probate  Judge 
of  the  county — was  ordered  by  the  Governor  of  Ohio  to  raise  500  men 
to  rendezvous  at  Lower  Sandusky,  and  repair  himself  at  once  to  the 
Governor's  headquarters  at  Fort  Miami.  A  regiment  of  militia  from 
Sandusky  County,  under  command  of  Colonel  Louis  Jennings,  joined 
General  Bell  in  the  latter  part  of  April,  1835. 

A  fact  which  lent  importance  to  the  question  involved  was  this : 
Ohio  had  at  great  expense  constructed  the  Miami  Canal,  which  termin- 
ated in  the  Miami  of  the  Lakes — Maumee — at  Manhattan.  If  the 
Michigan  claim  should  prevail,  the  terminus  of  this  canal  would  be 
outside  the  State  that  built  it. 

It  may  well  be  said  that  by  the  letter  of  the  law  bounding  Ohio 
on  the  north,  the  line  was  as  claimed  by  Michigan  — and  yet  Ohio  had 
all  the  time  had  and  exercised  possession  and  jurisdiction  of  the  dis- 
puted territory. 


The  territorial  governor  of  Michigan — Mason — called  out  a  body 
of  troops  to  rendezvous  on  the  Michigan  side,  and  hiatters  looked 
threatening. 

April  26,  1835,  some  fifty  men  of  Governor  Mason's  mounted 
forces,  armed  with  muskets,  came  upon  an  Ohio  surveying  party  which 
was  engaged  in  running  out  the  line,  captured  the  most  of  the  party 
and  bore  them  away  to  Tecumseh,  Michigan,  where  the  prisoners  were 
required  to  give  bail  for  their  appearance  before  a  magistrate  except 
two,  who  were  released  and  one  who  refused  to  give  bail  and  was  held 
in  custody.  Of  this  party  were  Colonels  Scott,  Hawkins  and  Gould r 
and  Major  R.  S.  Rice,  the  latter  better  known  as  Dr.  Rice,  father  of 
Dr.  John  B.  Rice. 

Governor  Lucas,  of  Ohio,  finding  that  if  he  persisted  in  running 
out  the  line  claimed  by  Ohio,  an  actual  conflict  would  result,  dis- 
banded his  forces.  The  controversy  was  finally  adjusted  by  giving  the 
disputed  strip  to  Ohio;  and  Congress  gave  to  Michigan  when  she  was 
erected  into  a  State,  June  15,  1836,  as  a  solace,  the  upper  peninsula — 
containing  the  mineral  lands  about  Lake  Superior — and  so  ended  the 
Michigan  war — without  bloodshed  and  without  a  shot  being  fired. 

The  war  of  the  rebellion  found  our  people  utterly  ignorant  as  to 
military  matters.  There  were  only  a  few  soldiers  here  and  those  had 
seen  service  in  Mexico.  And  the  militia  laws  which  had  been  in  force 
and  the  training  or  muster  days  which  bad  been  set  apart,  had  left 
apparently  little  or  no  knowledge  among  our  people  of  anything  except 
that  on  the  training  days  they  had  "a  high  old  time."  Fights  and 
races,  drinks  and  dances,  and  a  good  time  and  a  gala  day — that  was 
what  training  day  meant  When  there  was  no  more  of  these — and 
they  ceased  about  1837 — our  people  thought  no  more  of  war,  but 
relapsed  altogether  into  the  ways  of  peace. 

The  year  1861  found  the  people  of  Sandusky  County  fairly  pros- 
perous and  in  a  "well-to-do"  condition,  devoted  to  the  arts  of  peace 
and  strangers  to  anything  like  war.  But  they  were  patriotic  ;  warmly 
attached  to  their  institutions,  devoted  to  their  country  and  its  flag. 

When  the  national  flag  was  fired  upon  by  rebels,  and  an  appeal  to 
arms  came,  the  men  of  Sandusky  did  not  hesitate — their  answer  was 
prompt  and  emphatic.  Two  lull  companies  were  enlisted  in  a  day. 
More  men  came  forward  than  could  be  accepted. 

At  that  time  this  county  had  a  population  of  about  22,000  souls. 
It  had  of  male  persons  of  military  age,  viz :  of  the  age  of  18  to  45 
years  about  4,300.     In  1862  the  number  was  returned  at  4,387.     Of 
these  a  considerable  percentage  was  unfitted  for  military  service  by  dis- 
ease or  infirmity. 


27 

I  have  found  that  some  strange  fatality  has  attended  the  records 
of  the  war  days.  Various  enactments  of  the  State  Legislature  during 
the  years  1861  to  1865,  inclusive,  required  the  several  ward  and  town- 
ship assessors  of  personal  property,  each  year,  to  make  and  return  to 
the  County  Auditors  a  complete  list  of  all  soldiers  who  had  entered  the 
military  service,  stating  who  had  died,  from  each  ward  and  township. 
Also  to  report  a  complete  list  of  persons  liable  to  perform  military  duty. 

Some  attempt  was  made  to  make  and  report  these  lists.  But  the 
reports  were  very  indifferently  preserved.  No  provision  was  made  for 
recording  the  lists  and  very  little  effort  seems  to  have  been  made  to 
properly  file  and  preserve  the  very  interesting  papers. 

I  have  been  able  to  find  all  the  returns  for  1862,  and  nearly  all 
for  1864.  But  few  of  the  returns  for  1863  and  1865  can  be  found.  A 
careful  examination  shows  them  to  have  been  very  carelessly  and  badly 
gotten  up  For  example:  In  Townsend  township  there  are  t\vo 
reports  for  1864,  of  names  of  persons  who  had  entered  the  service  from 
that  township — both  by  the  same  assessor.  One  gives  the  total  number 
as  88,  the  other  as  103.  In  York,  in  1862,  the  number  is  given  as  158, 
and  the  names  are  given,  while  in  1865  the  number  is  placed  at  98, 
this  probably  includes  only  one  precinct ;  I  am  satisfied  neither  list  is 
correct.  In  Scott  the  number  in  1865  is  put  in  one  report  at  125,  in 
another  at  109.  These  reports  are  now  of  great  historical  interest  and 
of  great  value,  and  I  am  certain  that  if  the  persons  who  made  them — 
and  their  custodians — could  have  foreseen  their  great  interest  and  value 
they  would  have  been  better  made  out  and  preserved. 

I  have  carefully  studied  such  of  these  reports  as  I  could  find,  and 
have  examined  into  every  source  of  information,  and  give  you  the  best 
results  I  can,  showing  Sandusky  County's  part  in  the  great  war  of  the 
rebellion.  These  reports  are  to  May  of  each  year. 

In  1862,  we  had  sent  827  men;  in  1863,  about  1,650;  in  1864, 
2,060;  in  1865,  2,300.  This  is  exclusive  of  those  troops  designated  as 
100-day  men — or  Ohio  National  Guard — of  whom  Sandusky  County 
furnished  from  700  to  900  in  1864. 

In  this  calculation  I  count  individual  enlistments  and  do  not  in- 
clude re-enlistments.  It  will  be  observed  that  70  per  cent,  of  our  male 
population  of  military  age  entered  the  military  service  during  this  war. 
A  considerable  number  above  the  age  of  45  years  went  into  the  ser- 
vice, but,  as  a  rule,  they  were  unequal  to  the  hardships  of  the  service. 

In  1860  the  population  of  the  several  townships  of  this  county 
was:  York,  1,619;  Green  Creek,  1,826;  Ballville,  2,188;  Rice,  943; 
Washington,  1,992;  Madison,  981;  Fremont,  3,510;  Townsend,. 


28 

1,062;  Riley,  1,198;  Sandusky,  1,251;  Jackson,  1,478;  Scott,  1,264; 
Woodville,  1,561;  Clyde,  701;  Clyde  and  Green  Creek,  2,527;  Fre- 
mont and  Sandusky,  4,761 

If  we  calculate  the  percentage  of  soldiers  furnished,  based  upon 
population,  by  townships,  we  find  that  in  1865  Sandusky  township — 
including  Fremont — had  furnished  12.5  per  cent;  Green  Creek,  in- 
cluding Clyde,  17^  per  cent;  Ballville,  9J  per  cent;  Townsend,  10 
per  cent;  Riley,  7  per  cent. 

The  entire  county  sent  about  11  per  cent,  of  its  population  of 
1860  into  the  army,  excluding  100-day  men. 

I  found  in  the  Auditor's  office  in  a  book  where  the  Military  Relief 
Fund  account  was  kept,  a  tible  purporting  to  be  made  up  in  1865, 
giving  the  number  of  soldiers  enlisted  from  each  township,  and  also  the 
number  who  had  died,  as  follows : 


NAME    OF   TOWNSHIP.                                               E^™. 

DIED. 

York,            ....... 

98 

15 

Townsend,          ...... 

88 

27 

Green  Creek,            ...... 

351 

37 

Riley,      ....... 

79 

7 

Ballville,       

200 

47 

Sandusky,           .             .             .             .             ... 

593 

107 

Jackson,         ....... 

78 

12 

Washington,        ...... 

180 

32 

•Scott,              ....... 

109 

18 

Madison,              ...... 

73 

8 

Woodville,                 ,            

111 

26 

Kice,        ....... 

100 

16 

I  am  satisfied  these  figures  are  not  all  correct,  and  are  in  part 
below  the  truth  After  comparing  all  sources  of  information,  I  con- 
clude the  following  table  very  nearly  gives  the  number  of  men  eacli 
township  furnished,  exclusive  of  one  hundred  day  men:  York,  176; 
Townsend,  103;  Green  Creek,  351;  Riley,  79;  Ballville,  231;  San- 
dusky, 593;  Jackson,  110;  Washington,  189;  Scott,  135;  Madison, 
86;  Woodville,  149;  Rice,  100.  A  total  of  2,302. 

The  greatest  fatality  was  among  the  men  from  Townsend — being 
over  25  per  cent.  The  least  was  among  the  men  from  Riley — less  than 
10  per  cent.  The  average  of  "died  in  service,"  was  probably  at  least 
15  in  100  among  the  soldiers  from  this  county.  I  have  found  nothing 
from  which  I  can  determine  the  number  of  Sandusky  County  soldiers 


29 

who  were  killed  and  wounded,  and  who  died  during  and  since  the  war 
and  resulted  from  that  service.  I  am  convinced  the  total  loss  was  con- 
siderably above  the  average  of  the  army  during  the  war. 

The  records  of  the  civil  war  show  that  the  general  mortality  among 
the  volunteer  soldiers  was  about  75.4  in  1 ,000  ;  of  killed  in  battle  there 
were  18.8  in  1,000;  died  of  wounds,  11.2  in  1,000,  making  a  total  loss 
by  death  105.4  in  every  1,000,  or  10J  per  cent. 

The  soldiers  who  went  from  Sandusky,  were,  so  far  as  I  can  learn, 
put  into  active  service.  They  were  in  the  field  and  in  the  front  of 
battle,  and  the  losses  they  suffered  attest  their  bravery. 

The  first  soldiers  who  went,  and  indeed  those  who  enlisted  in  1861, 
were  promised  no  bounties.  July  22,  1861,  Congress  provided  that 
the  widow  or  legal  heirs  of  each  volunteer  who  should  die  or  be  killed 
in  the  service,  and  each  soldier  when  honorably  discharged  should 
receive  $100  if  he  should  serve  two  years.  April  21,  1862,  Congress 
provided  that  $25  of  the  bounty  should  be  paid  as  soon  as  the  soldier 
was  mustered.  June  25,  1863,  in  order  to  increase  the  army  in  the 
field,  the  War  Department  by  General  Order  No.  191,  directed  the 
payment  of  a  bounty  of  $  102  to  every  soldier  who  had  served  two 
years  and  should  re-enlist  for  three  and  become  "Veteran  Volunteers." 
The  drain  of  men  for  the  war  became  very  great,  and  in  the  latter 
years  the  States,  counties  and  townships,  and  local  voluntary  organiza- 
tions offered  local  bounties.  And  when  it  seemed  to  be  necessary  to 
resort  to  a  draft,  large  sums  were  raised  to  relieve  the  several  townships 
from  the  draft  and  to  procure  substitutes  to  go  in  the  army.  The 
prices  paid  for  so-called  substitutes  ranged  from  one  or  two  hundred  as 
high  as  $1,000.  Indeed,  the  prices  got  so  high  that  there  sprang  up  a 
class  called  "bounty  jumpers,"  who  engaged  in  the  very  dishonorable 
work  of  enlisting  for  large  bounties  and  deserting  immediately.  I  am 
unwilling  to  believe  many  Sandusky  County  men  engaged  in  this 
nefarious  practice- 
War  means  destruction,  not  merely  of  material,  but  of  men — of 
life  and  health ;  and  the  question,  who  shall  be  victor?  is  not  always 
to  be  determined  merely  by  valor  nor  by  strategy,  but  by  ability  to 
endure — who  is  best  able  to  suffer.  In  battle  many  are  killed,  many 
more  are  wounded,  and  hardships  make  still  many  others  sick.  It 
therefore  becomes  important  the  work  of  healing — of  recuperation „ 
shall  go  rapidly  forward. 

We  can  hardly  over-estimate  the  good  work,  and  great  aid  done 
and  furnished  by  the  sanitary  commission,  and  the  aid  societies  during 
the  war.  The  patriotic  women  of  Fremont  and  of  Clyde,  and  of  the 


30 

whole  country,  did  very  greatly  contribute  to  relieve  the  suffering  of 
the  wounded  and  the  sick,  and  to  heal  and  build  them  up,  and  to 
enable  them  to  go  again  into  the  great  conflict. 

I  should  be  very  glad  to  give  you  a  full  statement  of  the  work 
done  by  these  societies — but  their  records  are  gone  in  great  part  Airs. 
A.  H.  Miller,  once  president  of  the  Fremont  society,  wrote  me :  "After 
receiving  your  letter  I  made  inquiry  regarding  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society 
during  the  war  and  cannot  learn  that  the  records  were  saved.  *  *  j 
remember  the  ladies  worked  all  the  summer  before  the  society  wa> 
organized,  and  the  first  work  done  after  its  organization  was  to  knit 
mittens  for  the  72d  Regiment.  *  *  It  is  difficult  obtaining  facts 
about  the  society  on  account  of  a  number  of  the  leading  members  hav- 
ing died.  *  * 

The  society  was  composed  of  a  large  number  of  ladies  who  organ- 
ized by  annually  chosing  from  their  number  a  president,  vice-president, 
secretary  and  treasurer,  and  also  a  visiting  or  soliciting  committee.  The 
object  was  to  collect,  make  and  send  forward  such  articles  of  wearing 
apparel  as  could  not  be  had  in  the  field — and  especially  clothing,  medi- 
cine, food,  lint,  bandages  and  other  articles  for  hospital  use.  They 
usually  met  at  intervals  and  made  up  and  prepared  articles  for  use. 
They  solicited  donations  of  money,  clothing,  canned  fruits,  delicacies, 
vegetables  and  everything  which  could  better  the  condition  of  the  sick 
and  wounded  soldiers.  They  would  take  a  horse  and  wagon  and  go 
into  the  country  soliciting,  and  by  their  untiring  labors  of  love,  they 
collected  and  forwarded  large  quantities  of  fruits,  delicacies,  vegetables, 
clothing  and  hospitable  supplies,  which  were  of  priceless  value  in  alle- 
viating the  suffering  and  promoting  the  comfort  of  the  sick  and 
wounded.  In  a  single  quarter  of  1864,  the  Fremont  society  forwarded 
-39  woolen  shirts,  19  cotton  shirts,  42  pairs  of  socks,  20  pairs  of  drawers, 
10  sheets,  13  towels,  9  double  gowns,  50  handkerchiefs,  16  pillow  slips, 
and  large  quantities  of  lint,  compresses,  dried  and  canned  fruit,  etc. 

The  Clyde  society,  if  less  numerous,  was  not  less  zealous  in  its 
good  work.  It  consisted  of  68  members,  34  of  whom  were  workers 
and  the  others  contributors.  Of  this  society  23  have  since  died.  This 
society  collected  in  money  $837.32,  and  sent  forward  285  shirts,  215 
pairs  of  drawers,  273  towels,  15  bed  ticks,  129  double  gowns,  214 
pillow  cases,  128  pillows,  51  sheets,  64  comforts,  654  pads,  4,412  yards 
of  bandages,  3,589  compresses,  34  rolls  linen  and  cotton,  2  boxes  lint, 
12  pairs  of  slippers,  626  handkerchiefs,  7  coats,  170  pairs  of  socks, 
some  mittens,  napkins,  armslings,  canned  and  dried  fruits,  pickles  and 
many  other  articles. 


31 

The  good  ladies  of  Fremont  rented  a  house  and  established  a  sort 
of  hospital  or  sanitarium  for  sick  and  disabled  soldie/s  returning  oil 
leave  or  from  prison. 

Relief  measures  were  found  to  be  necessary  very  SOOD  after  the 
first  soldiers  went  to  the  field.  Many  who  went  were  day  laborers  and 
left  their  families  without  means;  voluntary  aid  was  rendered  by  neigh- 
bors and  friends,  but  was  not  adequate.  May  10th,  1861,  the  Legisla- 
ture authorized  the  several  counties  to  levy  a  tax  of  one-half  mill  and 
create  a  relief  fund  for  the  benefit  of  necessitous  soldiers'  families. 
June  8th,  1861,  a  petition  signed  by  several  hundred  prominent  citizens 
and  tax-payers  of  the  county  was  presented  to  the  County  Commis- 
sioners asking  them  to  levy  a  tax  for  the  relief  of  necessitous  families 
of  soldiers.  The  prayer  of  the  petitioners  was  heeded.  June  22nd, 

1861,  the  commissioners  held  their  first  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  act- 
ing as  a  relief,  and  disbursed  $79.     July  6th,  1861,  they  disbursed  $124. 
Thereafter  they  met  at  short  intervals  and  heard  statements  and  granted 
relief;  until  it  was  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  for  the  commissioners  to 
attend  to  all  the  requests,   and  March  21st,  1833,  a  law  was  enacted 
authorizing  the  County  Commissioners  to  distribute  the  relief  fund  to 
the  several  townships,  according  to  the  necessities  of  families  of  soldiers 
as  returned  by  the  township  assessors,  and  relief  was  authorized  to  be 
extended  to  families  of  deceased  soldiers.     From  July  3d,  1863,  to 
January  7th,  1867,  there  was  collected  and  paid  to  the  several  town- 
ships for  the  relief  of  soldiers'  families  more  than  $26,400. 

Early  in  the  war,  the  Legislature,  by  act  passed  February  4th, 

1862,  authorized  the  payment  by  soldiers  to  the  State  Treasurer  through 
a  State  agent,  of  any  money  the  soldier  desired  to  send  to  his  family, 
or  friend,  or  to  send  home  for  safe  keeping.     The  usual  course  was  to 
pay  the  money  to  the  State  agent  in  the  field,  taking  his  receipt  for  the 
amount.     The  agent  then  paid  the  money  into  the  State  treasury.     The 
soldier  sent  his  receipt  to  the  person  whom  he  desired  to  get  the  money. 
This  person  presented  the  receipt  to  the  County  Auditor,  who  gave  an 
order  on  the  County  Treasurer  for  the  amount.     The  County  Treasurer 
was  required  to  pay  the  order  from  any  funds  in  his  office,  and  then  he 
was  re-imbursed  monthly  from  the  State  treasury.     All  this  was  done 
without  charge  or  expense  to  the  soldier  or  his  family. 

In  this  way  Saudusky  County  soldiers  sent  home  from  June  llth, 
1862,  to  October  24th,  1865,  $143,322.86.  The  largest  sum  sent  was 
$1,384.53,  by  an  officer  who  had  been  for  many  months  a  prisoner  of  war. 

This  sum  I  am  sure  does  not  represent  one-half  the  money  sent 
home  by  our  soldiers.  Much  was  sent  by  express,  and  much  by  private 
parties.  I  doubt  not  that  half  a  million  dollars  were  sent  home  by 


32 

Saiulusky     County     soldiers     during     the     war     of    the     rebellion. 

In  what  regiments,  companies,  batteries  or  other  organizations  did 
the  Sandusky  County  soldiers  serve? 

I  have  labored  in  vain,  I  fear,  to  answer  this  question  fully.  A 
''History  of  Sandusky  County"  states  the  organizations — giving  25. 
Another  history  says  they  served  in  21  organizations.  Neither  is  at  all  cor- 
rect. The  soldiers  who  went  from  this  county  into  the  war  of  the  rebellion, 
served  in  more  than  120  different  regiments  or  independent  organizations. 

They  served  in  the  following  regiments  of  infantry  volunteers: 
2d,  4th,  5th,  8th,  llth,  14th,  18th,  19th,  21st,  23d,  24th,  25th,  28th, 
29th,  32d,  33d,  34th,  36th,  37th,  39th,  41st,  43d,  49th,  50th,  52d, 
55th,  56th,  57th,  58th,  60th,  64th,  65th,  66th,  68th,  69th,  70th,  72d, 
74th,  82d,  86th,  100th,  101st,  103d,  105th,  107th,  110th,  lllth,  123d, 
126th,  128th,  129th,  176th,  177th,  180th,  181st,  185th,  186th,  188th, 
189th,  191st,  195th,  196th,  197th,  198th. 

And  in  the  following  infantry  regiments  of  the  National  Guards, 
viz:  139th,  145th,  164th  and  169th. 

They  also  were  in  the  2d,  3d,  6th,  8th,  9th,  10th  and  12th  regi- 
ments of  cavalry  volunteers,  and  in  the  1st  and  2d  regiments  of  light 
artillery,  and  in  the  10th,  12th,  17th,  19th,  20th,  21st  and  22d  bat- 
teries. The  county  was  also  represented  in  company  7  of  sharp-shooters 
and  in  Hoffman's  battalion. 

Besides  these  92  Ohio  organizations,  Sandusky  County  had  repre- 
sentatives in  28  organizations  outside  of  Ohio,  viz :  2d  colored  troops, 
44th  ditto,  9th,  16th  and  29th  Indiana  Infantry  Volunteers,  1st  and 
18th  Michigan  Infantry  Volunteers,  54th  and  65th  New  York  Infantry 
Volunteers,  169th  and  198th  Pennsylvania  Infantry  Volunteers,  10th 
and  18th  U.  S.  Infantry,  1st  U.  S.  Chasseurs,  2d  Colorado  Cavalry, 
6th  Illinois  Cavalry,  1st  Michigan  Cavalry,  1st  and  6th  U.  S.  Cavalry, 
1st  Illinois  Battery,  5th  Michigan  Battery,  10th  U.  S.  Battery,  1st 
Michigan  Mechanics  and  Engineers,  U.  S  Telegraph  Corps,  President's 

Body    Guard   (same   as   Union  Light   Guard)    and  Virginia 

Cavalry.  There  were  also  several  representatives  in  the  naval  and  gun- 
boat services.  It  is  certain  enough  that  the  soldiers  of  Saudusky 
County  were  represented  in  120  different  organizations. 

The  largest  number  in  one  command  was  in  the  72d  Infantry, 
next  in  the  169th  O.  N.  G.,  and  then  there  were  two  companies  in  the 
gallant  old  8th  (infantry),  and  about  one  company  each  in  the  21st, 
25th,  49th,  55th,  100th,  lllth,  and  186th  Volunteer  Infantry.  There 
was  also  a  company  in  the  3d  cavalry.  In  the  other  named  organiza- 
tions the  number  varied  from  nearly  a  company  to  a  small  squad. 

If  it  be  inquired,  where  did  these  men  from  Sandusky  County 


33 

fight  their  battles  ?  I  ansjver,  all  along  the  line  from  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  They  helped  to  expel  the  rebels  from 
West  Virginia.  They  aided  in  reclaiming  Kentucky  for  the  Union. 
They  were  on  the  Peninsula,  and  in  the  great  battles  of  the  Seven 
Days' fighting;  they  were  in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and,  indeed,  in 
each  of  the  great  campaigns  of  the  civil  war. 

In  the  work  of  suppressing  the  rebellion,  Sandusky  County  soldiers 
penetrated  every  Southern  State,  save,  perhaps,  Florida.  In  the  march- 
ing and  counter-marching  before  Washington  and  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  and  in  the  reclamation  of  East  Tennessee ;  in  the  movement  to 
Northern  Alabama  and  the  long  race  with  Bragg's  army  in  1862,  and 
in  the  swamp  of  the  Missis-ippi,  in  the  perilous  and  brilliant  operations 
about  Vicksburg,  and  the  long  and  exhausting  movements  against 
Atlanta,  in  the  Wilderness,  and  in  the  bloody  contests  of  1864 ;  in  the 
advance  on  Richmond  and  in  the  grand  and  glorious  march  to  the  sea ; 
in  all  these  and  many  other  marches,  sieges,  advances  and  retreats,  the 
brave  sons  of  your  county  had  their  full  share. 

Often  footsore  and  weary;  many  times  destitute  of  food  and  cloth- 
ing ;  braving  the  enemy  and  elements  alike,  they  went  bravely  and  un- 
complainingly forward,  with  unfaltering  determination  to  plant  the 
flag  of  their  country  upon  every  foot  of  its  soil. 

It  made  no  difference  that  they  were  required  to  endure  the  tropical 
heat  of  a  southern  sun,  lying  in  rifle-pits  or  trenches,  nor  that  they  were 
compelled  to  endure  the  cold  blasts  of  winter  without  tents  or  covering, 
nor  yet  that  rations  were  often  poor  and  sometimes  wholly  wanting, 
they  went  steadily,  heroically  forward.  They  met  and  mingled  with 
their  fellow  soldiers  from  every  loyal  State  and  region,  and  can  truly 
boast  that  in  all  the  qualities  of  soldiers  and  citizens  they  were  among 
the  foremost  and  the  best. 

I  attempted,  in  preparing  this  paper,  and  had  intended  to  mention 
the  battles  in  which  Sandusky  County  soldiers  participated.  But  you 
will  remember  there  were  2250  engagements  in  that  war.  Our  soldiers 
were  in  120  different  organizations.  I  found  I  could  not,  within  proper 
limits,  give  the  list.  We  know  they  fought  in  all  the  great  battles  of 
the  war.  Their  mettle  was  first  tried  in  the  early  battles  of  what  is 
now  West  Virginia,  and  in  numerous  affairs  in  Virginia,  Kentucky, 
and  Tennessee,  in  the  first  year  of  the  conflict.  Some  were  at  Bull 
Run,  and  some  at  Donelson  and  New  Madrid.  Surely  of  the  great 
battles  our  county  had  its  full  share.  At  Shiloh,  Stone  River,  Corinth, 
Seven  Pines  and  Fair  Oaks,  Cross  Keyes  and  Port  Republic.  The 
Seven  Days'  Retreat,  at  Groveton,  and  Gainesville,  Second  Bull  Run, 
Antietam,  luka,  Fredericksburg,  Virginia,  Chancellorsville,  in  the 


34 

Vicksburg  campaign,  at  Gettysburg.  Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge, 
in  the  Atlanta  Campaign,  the  Wilderness  and  at  Spottsylvania,  in  the 
Siege  of  Richmond,  at  Franklin,  Nashville  and  in  many  other  battles, 
the  men  who  went  from  this  county  fcught  valiantly,  and  never  suffered 
dishonor.  Their  marches,  sieges,  battles,  great  and  small,  if  written, 
would  make  a  long  list.  Well  may  you  erect  this  magnificent  monu- 
ment in  honor  of  the  deeds  of  your  citizen  soldiery. 

Where  all  did  so  nobly  it  would  be  improper,  perhaps,  to  mention 
any  individual  or  command,  lest  I  disparage  others.  My  researches 
have  abundantly  satisfied  me  that  men  who  went  into  the  war  were 
nearly  all  of  the  same  stuff.  No  matter  what  organization  you  select, 
no  matter  where  they  fought,  they  were  brave  and  behaved  gallantly. 

BETSEY  CROGHAN. 

I  must  mention  the  old  iron  gun  now  in  Fort  Stephenson  Park. 
This  is  the  same  gun  used  in  defence  of  the  fort  seventy-two  years  ago 
to-morrow.  After  the  war  of  1812,  it  was  sent  to  the  Government 
Arsenal  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.  About  1851  or  1852,  Brice  J.  Bart- 
lett,  well  known  to  all  our  older  people  as  a  prominent  lawyer,  then 
Mayor  of  Lower  Sandusky — now  Fremont — conceived  the  design  of 
procuring  the  old  gun  as  a  relic  to  be  kept  at  the  place  it  so  greatly 
aided  to  defend.  He  procured  a  soldier  who  helped  use  the  gun  in 
Fort  Stephenson  and  who  could  identify  it  by  some  peculiar  mark  on  the 
breech,  to  go  to  Pittsburg  and  identify  it.  And  by  persistent  effort 
Mr.  Bartlett  procured  the  gun  to  be  sent  to  Lower  Sandusky.  But 
there  were  several  Sandusky s  — Sandusky  City,  Lower  Sandusky, 
Upper  Sandusky,  etc.,  and  by  some  mistake  the  old  gun  was  sent  to 
Sandusky  City,  where,  I  believe,  there  never  was  a  battle.  But  our 
neighbors  on  the  bay  took  it  into  their  heads  to  keep  the  gun.  A 
pretty  sharp  controversy  arose  in  regard  to  it.  The  Sandusky  City 
people,  it  is  said,  to  secure  the  gun  against  seizure,  buried  it  out  of 
sight,  instead  of  defending  it.  But  Brice  J.  Bartlett  was  not  to  be 
easily  foiled  nor  defeated.  He  employed  a  detective  who  went  to  San- 
dusky and  finally  learned  that  the  gun  was  buried  and  where.  There- 
upon Mayor  Bartlett,  aided  by  people  here,  hired  a  team  and  men  to 
go  to  Sandusky,  and  in  the  stillness  of  night  they  uncovered  the  old 
cannon  and  brought  it  away. 

On  August  2d,  1852,  there  was  a  splendid  celebration  of  Croghan's 
victory  here,  and  old  Betsy  Croghan  had  a  large  part  in  it  and  was 
very  warmly  greeted. 

But  how  did  this  gun  come  to  be  called  Betsy? 

There  lived  here  for  many  years  a  Methodist  local  preacher  named 


35 

Thomas  L.  Hawkins — who  was  also  a  poet.  A  volume  of  his  poems 
was  published  in  1853.  August  2d,  1852,  he  wrote  and  read  a  poem 
at  the  celebration  mentioned,  being  a  salutation  to  this  old  six-pounder. 
It  was  he  who  named  the  gun  Betsy,  or  Betsy  Croghan,  at  least  such  is 
the  tradition.  In  another  poem  on  "  Colonel  Croghan 's  victory  of 
Fort  Stephenson,"  this  poet  calls  this  gun  "Our  Bess." 

THE  SANDUSKY  COUNTY  SOLDIERS'  MONUMENT. 

On  April  8th,  1881,  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Ohio 
enacted  a  law  authorizing  the  County  Commissioners  of  any  county  in 
the  State  to  submit  to  a  vote  of  the  people,  at  any  general  election,  the 
question  whether  a  tax  of  not  more  than  one-half  mill  on  the  dollar 
should  be  levied  on  all  property  upon  the  tax  duplicate  to  raise  a  fund 
wherewith  to  build  a  monument  or  memorial  structure  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  soldiers  who  served  in  the  Union  army  during  the  rebellion. 

May  19th,  1882,  Eugene  A.  Rawson  Post  G.  A.  R.,  of  Fremont, 
after  having  had  the  matter  under  discussion,  appointed  a  committee 
consisting  of  R.  P.  Buckland,  R.  B.  Hayes,  G.  A.  Gessner,  S.  A.  J. 
Snyder,  and  W.  E.  Haynes,  to  take  such  action  as  should  be  deemed 
expedient  toward  errecting  a  monument  for  Sandusky  County  soldiers. 

Petitions  were  circulated  and  numerously  signed,  asking  our 
County  Commissioners  to  submit  the  question  of  levying  a  tax  of  one- 
half  a  mill  to  the  people  of  Sandusky  County  at  the  general  October 
election,  1882 ;  the  Commissioners  readily  granted  the  prayer  of  the 
petition  and  submitted  the  question  to  popular  vote.  The  surviving 
soldiers  of  the  county  took  very  lively  interest  in  this  matter;  but  to 
no  person  is  more  credit  due  than  to  Captain  A.  F.  Price,  Commander 
of  Eugene  A.  Rawson  Post,  and  to  no  association  or  body  is  more 
credit  due  than  to  the  members  of  that  post.  The  post  held  a  camp- 
fire  on  the  fair  grounds  during  the  county  fair  in  1882,  and  by  active 
soliciting  and  public  addresses,  contributed  very  largely  toward  a  favor- 
able decision  on  the  question  of  levying  a  tax,  which  was  carried  at  the 
next  election — 3,784  votes  being  cast  for  the  levy  and  1,462  against  it. 

Afterward  it  was  thought  best  that  a  Monumental  Association  be 
created,  and  on  April  19th,  1883,  the  Sandusky  County  Soldiers'  Monu- 
mental Association  was  incorporated,  the  incorporators  being  R.  B. 
Hayes,  R.  P.  Buckland,  W.  E.  Haynes,  J.  H.  Rhoads,  Jno.  M.  Lem- 
mon,  M.  E.  Tyler  and  Jno  B.  Rice.  This  association  organized  by 
electing  R.  P  Buckland,  president;  J.  H.  Rhodes,  vice-president;  W. 
E.  Haynes,  treasurer,  and  R.  B.  Hayes,  secretary. 

February  4th,  1884,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  County  Commis- 
sioners, the  matter  of  building  the  monument  was  given  entirely  into 


36 

the  hands  of  the  Monumental  Association,  and  pursuant  to  an  act 
passed  April  27,  1884,  the  Commissioners  turned  over  to  it  the  funds 
already  raised,  amounting  to  87,653.19,  the  association  acting  in  har- 
mony with  the  Eugene  A.  Rawson  Post. 

The  association  thereupon  invited  the  submission  of  plans,  specifi- 
cations and  designs  for  a  monument,  and  appointed  September  12th, 
1884,  to  examine  the  designs  and  let  the  contracts  for  the  construction 
of  the  monument. 

The  design  of  the  New  England  Granite  Works  was  accepted  and 
the  contract  awarded  to  that  company,  the  monument  to  be  of  Quincy 
granite  and  the  statue  of  Westerly  granite.  As  a  matter  of  course, 
the  site  for  the  erection  of  the  monument  was  fixed  in  Fort  Stephenson 
Park,  which  had  been  purchased  by  the  city  of  Fremont  and  dedicated 
to  public  and  patriotic  uses  some  time  before. 

February  2d,  1885,  the  Association  met  and  designated  Saturday, 
August  1st,  1885,  as  the  day  of  unveiling.  The  monument  was  com- 
pleted Wednesday,  July  29,  1885. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Lemmon's  address,  General  Hayes  read 
the  letter  received  from  the  President  in  response  to  the  invitation  ex- 
tended him  to  be  present,  and  referring  to  the  celebration  of  Croghan's 
victory  at  this  place  forty-six  years  ago,  read  a  letter  received  at  that 
time  from  the  gallant  defender  of  Fort  Stephenson.  The  "Battle  Cry 
of  Freedom "  was  then  sung,  and  was  splendidly  rendered  as  was  all 
the  music  on  the  occasion. 

LETTER  FROM  MAJOR  CROGHAN. 

ST.  Louis,  July  26,  1839. 

GENTLEMEN  : — I  have  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter  of  the  8th  inst., 
inviting  me  on  the  part  of  the  citizens  of  Lower  Sandusky,  to  be  present  with 
them  on  the  coming  anniversary  of  the  defence  of  Fort  Stephenson.  It  is  with 
regret  that  I  am,  on  account  of  official  duties,  unable  to  comply  with  your  kind 
and  nattering  invitation.  In  communicating  this,  my  reply,  I  cannot  forbear  to 
acknowledge  with  deep  gratitude  the  honor  you  confer.  To  have  been  with 
those  gallant  men  who  served  with  me  on  the  occasion  alluded  to,  permitted  by 
a  kind  Providence  to  perform  a  public  duty  which  has  been  deemed  worthy  of 
special  notice  by  my  fellow-citizens,  is  a  source  of  high  gratification,  heightened, 
too,  by  the  reflection,  that  the  scene  of  conflict  is  now,  by  the  enterprise  and  in- 
dustry of  your  people,  the  home  of  a  thriving  and  intelligent  community.  I 
beg  to  offer  to  you,  gentlemen,  and  through  you  to  the  citizens  of  Lower  San- 
dusky,  my  warmest  thanks  for  the  remembrance  which  you  have  so  flatteringly 
expressed. 

With  every  feeling  of  respect  and  gratitude,  yours, 

G.  CROGHAN. 

"  F.  Williams  and  others,  committee." 


37 

Captain  Andrew  C.   Kemper  delivered  the  following  poem  con- 
tributed by  him  in  honor  of  the  great  event : 

FORT  STEPHENSON. 


Where  dear  Sandusky's  waters  glide 
From  storied  falls,  through  meadows  wide, 
By  verdant  hills  on  either  side, 
To  seek  Lake  Erie's  famous  tide  ; 

On  proud  Fort  Stephenson ; 
Where  Croghan  his  laurel  chaplet  earned, 
And  Freedom's  foes  a  lesson  learned, 
A  shaft  memorial  is  discerned, 

The  soldier's  benison. 

God's  sunlight  kisses  all  its  faces 
Where  glory  dresses  honor's  traces 
And  amaranthine  ivy  graces 
The  velvet  green  about  its  bases  ; 

On  proud  Fort  Stephenson  ; 
The  sheen  of  victory  from  the  lake 
Upon  its  head  in  shivers  break, 
And  all  a  patriot's  raptures  wake 

In  every  denizen. 

Here  Justice  blindfold  holds  her  sway  ; 
The  scales  of  God  exactly  weigh  ; 
And  Birchard's  alcoves  well  display 
The  light  of  ages  far  away 

O'er  proud  Fort  Stephenson  ; 
While  reverent  people  pause  to  greet 
The  sacred  turf  beneath  their  feet, 
And  cheer  our  Union  all  complete, 

Without  comparison. 

WThose  lips  shall  make  the  computation 
Of  heartless  war's  wide  desolation, 
The  widow's  orphan's  lamentation, 
The  patriot's  blood  the  consecration 

Of  Freedom's  garrison, 
And  tell  the  costly  sacrifice 
For  liberties  we  idolize, 
The  deeds  the  stones  immortalize 

Here  on  Fort  Stephenson  ! 


38 
ii. 


A  beaten  pathway  from  the  place 
The  people's  tributes  nobly  grace 
My  quickened  fancies  deftly  trace 
Beyond  the  city's  market  space 

Through  meads  and  lovely  dells, 
To  where  beneath  the  stately  elms, 
Unconscious  of  pretentious  realms 
Where  vain  ambition  overwhelms, 

A  soldier's  widow  dwells. 

Beside  her  cottage  on  the  lawn, 
As  pleased  as  is  her  petted  fawn, 
She  sees  the  eastern  gates  withdrawn 
To  let  the  happy  morning  dawn 

And  speed  its  radiant  course, 
In  quivering  gold  and  radiant  sheaves, 
That  glisten  on  the  dewy  eaves, 
And  beckon  from  the  holly  leaves 

Back  to  their  lofty  source. 

Thrilling  the  morning's  balminess 
Their  matins'  song  of  happiness, 
The  pure  delight  of  childness, 
Is  guided  by  the  prophetess, 

While  singing  birds  discourse, 
And  lowing  herds  their  joy  proclaim 
To  join  the  children  and  the  dame 
Sending  the  echo  of  their  flame 

Back  to  its  lofty  source. 

How  nature  smiles  through  all  her  aisles 
Where  love  beguiles,  and  reconciles 
Our  earthly  drill  with  heaven's  will, 
Softening  the  ill,  and  leaving  still 

Bright  gleams  of  purest  glory  ; 
The  widow's  lot  was  hard  indeed, 
And  often  made  her  heart- strings  bleed, 
But  yet  she  ne'er  forgot  the  creed 

Of  Freedom's  bloody  story. 

III. 

The  weekly  round  of  toil,  so  drear, 
And  then  the  Sabbath,  ever  dear, 
With  restful  voices  ringing  clear, 
Inviting  all  to  come,  that  hear, 
And  justly  worship  God  ; 


39 

The  widow  with  her  family, 
Serene  in  her  fidelity, 
Follows  with  simple  piety 
The  path  so  often  trod. 

She  husbands  all  the  winding  way 
To  turn  their  thought  from  work  or  play 
To  themes  adapted  to  the  day, 
Delighted  when  their  hearts  obey 

The  bent  her  counsels  gave  them  ; 
Nor  less  she  taught  them  loyalty 
With  all  a  mother's  purity, 
Intent  that  Christ's  authority 

From  traitor's  schemes  should  save  them. 

While  through  the  church  the  anthern  rolled 
Her  heart's  desires  to  God  were  told     ' 
That  He  with  graces  manifold 
Their  rightful  conduct  would  uphold, 

His  banner  floating  o'er  them, 
Its  cross  of  sorrow  crimson  dyed, 
Its  crown  of  glory  sanctified, 
Its  streams  of  love  the  certain  guide 

To  all  whose  hearts  adore  them. 

And  when  the  sun  was  in  the  west, 
Benignly  sinking  to  his  rest, 
She  brought  them  by  her  prayers  caressed, 
To  kneel  upon  the  grassy  crest 

Where  stands  the  monument, 
And,  with  their  faces  bathed  in  light, 
Observe  their  Sabbath  evening  rite 
And  make  the  vow  their  hearts  indite 

In  faith  omnipotent. 

We  consecrate  ourselves  to  Thee, 
Our  father's  God  of  Liberty, 
By  whose  immaculate  degree 
Thy  children  are  forever  free 

Wherever  rolls  the  sun  ; 
We  pledge  our  fealty's  surety 
The  life  our  father  gave  to  Thee, 
And  plead  his  comrad's  chivalry 

That  kept  our  Nation  one. 

IV. 

And  oft  as  Sabbath  evening  came, 
The  children  kneeling  with  the  dame, 


40 

True  to  their  patriot  fathers  name, 
And  to  their  country's  rising  fame, 

Renew  their  consecration  ; 
And  still  that  head  of  silvered  hair, 
Amid  the  group  divinely  fair, 
Receives  the  sunset's  golden  glare, 

Heaven's  loving  salutation. 

But  soon  a  cloud  comes  hovering  o'er, 
And  darkness  shrouds  the  cottage  door, 
And  from  the  river's  other  shore 
The  voices  bid  her  spirit  soar 

Beyond  the  reign  of  night ; 
And  as  she  hears  the  summons  ringing 
The  cloud  is  rifted  by  the  singing, 
Ana  angel  bands  in  haste  are  winging 

From  heaven  their  happy  flight. 

The  village  pastor's  blissful  prayer 
Seems  like  a  ladder  standing  there 
O'er  which  the  angels  have  their  care 
To  guide  aloft  the  spirit  heir 

To  her  celestial  home  ; 
And  tender  hearts  that  break  in  sighs 
Rejoice  the  wondering  angels'  eyes 
To  see  how  much  of  paradise 

On  earth  finds  genial  room. 

The  children's  voices  chant  their  song, 
From  sadness  rising  sweet  and  strong, 
To  fly  with  all  the  prayer  along 
Till  seraphs'  harps  the  notes  prolong 

And  echo  through  the  spheres ; 
They  echo  through  the  hearts  of  men 
To  light  their  filial  love  again, 
And  bid  gruff  soldiers  say  Amen  ! 

And  brush  aside  their  tears. 

How  bloom  the  flowers  above  her  head 
Whose  bleeding  heart  in  patience  led 
The  children  of  her  patriot  dead, 
While  anxious  for  their  daily  bread, 

To  God  and  Liberty  ; 
The  Genius  of  our  Nation  weeps 
Where  such  a  famous  mother  sleeps, 
And  in  her  heart  forever  keeps 

Her  cherished  memory. 


41 

Here  many  come,  and  many  go, 
And  many  heads  as  white  as  snow, 
With  many  children  bending  low, 
Repeat  the  widow's  holy  vow, 

On  proud  Fort  Stephenson; 
And  everywhere  such  children  stand 
There  is  a  trusty,  patriot  band 
To  dedicate  our  native  land 

To  Liberty  and  Union. 

General  Jacob  D.  Cox,  the  orator  of  the  day,  was  then  introduced, 
and  delivered  the  following  address,  which  was  heartily  applauded 
throughout: 

ADDRESS  OF  GENERAL  COX. 

LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN,  CITIZENS  OF  SANDUSKY  COUNTY  :— 
You  are  to  be  congratulated  upon  the  beautiful  monument  unveiled  to- 
day. Its  chaste  proportions  and  solidity  of  material  and  construction 
will  give  you  permanent  pleasure,  and  the  granite  soldier  looking  down 
from  its  summit,  is  a  proper  guardian  for  the  site  of  Fort  Stephenson, 
one  of  the  most  memorable  of  all  our  old  historic  places. 

Monuments  have  been  favorite  things  with  men  of  all  ages.  We 
love  to  mark  the  times  and  places  of  great  events  and  to  record  noble 
names.  We  instinctively  love  to  rear  something  that  shall  be  long 
enduring  and  shall  tell  to  other  times  what  is  the  notable  thing  that  has 
been  done. 

You  have  been  peculiarly  fortunate  in  having  triple  cause  for 
erecting  a  monument  which  must  always  be  a  most  interesting  one  by 
reason  of  these  multiplied  associations  which  you  have  linked  together 
in  its  construction  and  its  site.  Each  has  an  interest  in  itself  worthy  of 
commemoration;  but  when  you  dedicated  it  at  once  to  the  gallant  men 
who  here  defended  the  flag  against  a  foreign  foe  and  its  savage  allies, 
to  the  patriotic  citizen  soldiers,  who  fought  or  fell  on  the  distant  battle- 
fields of  tropical  Mexico,  and  to  the  noble  host,  greatest  and  noblest  of 
all,  who,  in  our  own  days,  offered  their  lives  and  their  blood  to  preserve 
the  nation  against  the  assaults  of  a  gigantic  rebellion,  you  have  made 
it  thrice  sacred  in  the  eyes  of  every  patriot  who  may  look  upon  it,  and 
have  thrice  multiplied  its  interest  to  every  stranger  who  may  stand  at 
its  base  and  read  the  legends  you  have  there  inscribed  ! 

Then,  too,  the  time  of  our  meeting  to  celebrate  its  completion 
gains  an  added  pathos  from  the  fact  that  the  whole  country  is  vocal 
with  the  memorial  tributes  of  praise  and  gratitude  to  the  great  soldier 


42 

who  lies  upon  his  bier  at  Mount  McGregor,  and  who  in  his  own  person 
typifies  the  military  devotion  which,  from  1861  to  1865,  took  the 
choicest  elements  of  all  the  young  generation  of  that  day  into  their 
country's  service.  They  shared  his  undoubting  faith  in  the  righteous- 
ness of  the  cause.  His  unconquerable  and  stubborn  valor  they 
emulated.  His  unbending  and  steadfast  will  they  rejoiced  to  obey. 
His  great  abilities  as  a  commander  they  admired  and  gloried  in.  His 
simple  citizenship  and  modest  obedience  to  the  laws,  when  the  time 
came  to  lay  down  his  military  power,  they  imitated.  As  we  dedicate 
the  monument  to  these,  his  great  deeds  and  great  patriotism  are  in  our 
minds  and  hearts,  and  in  one  beautiful  act  we  honor  at  once  our  com- 
rades and  their  great  commander 

But  I  intended  to  notice  briefly  in  their  order  the  three  classes  of 
historic  men  and  events  to  which  this  granite  shaft  is  consecrated. 

The  war  of  1812  has  often  and  rightly  been  spoken  of  as  a  sort  of 
supplement  to  the  war  of  the  revolution.  When  our  fathers  had  ac- 
quired their  nominal  independence,  they  were  a  feeble  commonwealth, 
loosely  bound  together  by  articles  of  confederation,  which  required 
much  strengthening  before  they  could  become  a  national  constitution 
fit  to  be  the  organic  and  fundamental  law  of  a  great  nation.  America 
had  not  yet  fully  won  her  place  among  the  peoples  of  the  earth. 
Feeble  in  numbers  and  in  wealth,  and  with  a  governmental  form  which 
the  monarchies  of  the  old  world  believed  to  be  impracticable  and  tran- 
sitory, it  was  still  an  open  question  whether  they  would  fall  under  the 
domination  of  France,  which  had  befriended  them,  or  would  remain 
practically  a  colony  of  the  British  Empire  from  which  they  had  rebelled. 
True,  the  three  millions  of  people  who  had  fought  for  independence, 
had  in  thirty  years  acquired  something  more  nearly  like  national  pro- 
portions; but  that  they  could  stand  alone,  could  demand  and  assert 
their  rights  among  the  great  powers  of  the  world,  had  not  been  proven. 
Consequently,  the  war  of  1812  is  rightly  considered  the  consolidation 
and  finishing  of  the  work  of  Independence.  It  decided  that  we  were  a 
nation  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word,  not  dependent  upon  others,  nor 
merely  tolerated  by  them  on  the  face  of  the  earth  because  oceans  rolled 
between  us ;  but  one  which  had  grown  to  the  full  stature  of  matured 
nationality.  The  seizure  of  our  merchant  ships  and  the  imprisonment 
of  our  seamen  by  the  British,  was  merely  the  incident  which  gave  rise 
to  a  conflict  for  which  the  time  was  ripe  and  which  could  not  be  long 
postponed.  Should  our  independence  be  a  reality  or  a  mere  name? 
that  was  the  real  struggle  which  was  fought  out  in  those  trying  years  of 
1812  and  1813. 


43 

You  are  happy  in  having  here  in  your  midst,  preserved  nearly  ii> 
its  original  form  and  appearance  by  the  thoughtful  taste  which  set  it 
apart  and  adorned  it  as  a  park,  the  place  of  one  of  those  picturesque 
events  of  war,  which,  from  the  very  first  moment,  fastened  the  public 
attention.  It  was  not  necessary  to  dig  it  out  of  oblivion,  and  there 
was  no  danger  that  any  one  should  say  that  loeal  pride  had  magnified  a 
thing  which  the  world  had  forgotten.  In  every  history  of  our  country 
it  had  been  caught  up  by  the  historian  as  a  brilliant  picture  with  which 
to  enliven  his  pages.  Fort  Stephenson  was  from  the  first  a  historic 
place,  and  Major  Croghan's  defence  of  it  was  recognized  as  a  heroic 
tiling  worthy  of  being  described  in  the  noblest  words  that  history  can 
use. 

The  second  event  which  this  monument  commemorates,  the  war 
with  Mexico,  was  one  of  the  incidents  in  the  long  struggle  between  the 
eon  dieting  systems  of  labor  in  the  North  and  South,  which  finally  cul- 
minated in  the  war  of  the  great  rebellion.  Xo  intelligent  student  of 
history  can,  by  any  means,  separate  the  two.  When  our  children  learn 
the  meaning  of  the  term  Constitutional  history,  as  applied  to  the  first 
century  of  our  national  existence  and  progress,  they  will  understand 
that  the  vital  fact  which  dominated  all  others  and  determined  the 
development  of  our  institutions  and  the  struggles  of  political  parties, 
was  the  irrepressible  conflict  between  Free  Labor  and  Slavery.  The 
one  was  represented  by  our  vigorous,  Democratic,  progressive  North : 
the  other  had  its  home  in  the  'Sunny  South,'  where  it  gave  to  the 
dominant  race  many  elements  of  power,  of  elegance,  of  pride,  of  men- 
tal and  political  leadership,  but  after  all,  as  we  believe,  fatally  crippled 
the  State,  did  dishonor  to  manhood  itself,  was  a  crime  against  the 
noblest  aspirations  of  humanity,  and  offered  the  picture  of  a  people 
fated  to  ruin  by  the  logical  results  of  its  own  false  doctrines. 

The  Mexican  war  was  the  desperate,  culminating  effort  on  the 
part  of  the  nation  to  accommodate  and  harmonize  these  two  systems. 
\Ve  went  the  whole  length  of  making  an  unjust  war  of  conquest  upon 
a  neighboring  people  in  order  to  give  to  slavery  the  'room  and  verge*  in 
which  new  slave  States  might  be  erected  from  conquered  territory  side 
by  side  with  the  rapidly  increasing  northern  ones  which  the  hardy  free 
pioneers  were  year  by  year  establishing  in  the  wilds  and  prairies  of  the 
great  northwest.  The  vain  hope  of  southern  men  that  the  slave  system 
could  rival  free  labor  in  extending  empires  was  thoroughly  tested,  and 
the  opportunity  given  it  to  preserve,  if  it  could,  that  balance  of  power 
in  the  Senate  by  which  it  had  so  long  ruled  the  politics  of  the  nation. 

I  cannot  go  further  into  the  history  of  the  war  with  Mexico  than 


44 

thus  to  indicate  its  origin  and  general  purpose.  It  was  warmly  opposed 
by  many  of  our  best  men,  but  when  once  war  was  declared  to  be 
flagrant,  opposition  was  silenced  by  the  cry  "  our  country  right  or 
wrong,"  and  your  monument  is  reared,  in  part,  to  do  honor  to  the  men 
who  rushed  to  uphold  the  flag  under  the  influence  of  that  cry.  So 
jealous  were  most  of  our  people  of  everything  that  looked  like  luke- 
warmuess  toward  the  flag,  that  when  one  of  Ohio's  most  favored  sons,  a 
brilliant  orator  and  statesman,  in  his  deep  conviction  of  the  injustice 
and  wantonness  of  the  war  on  our  part,  gave  utterance  to  a  strong 
expression  of  this  feeling  in  a  form  that  was,  perhaps,  only  a  rhetorical 
exaggeration,  but  which  might  bear  an  unpatriotic  meaning,  he  lost 
from  that  hour  his  hold  upon  the  popular  affection  and  was  forever 
after  thrust  aside  from  popular  favor.  It  seemed  to  prove  the  turning 
point  in  his  public  career  and  killed  him  as  a  political  leader.  It  was, 
some  way,  inconsistent  with  the  impulsive  patriotism  that  would  sustain 
the  country  in  every  foreign  conflict,  and  jarred  upon  the  general 
sentiment  of  the  people  who  refused  to  inquire  into  the  merits  of  the 
strife  when  once  an  armed  collision  with  a  foreign  power  had  begun. 
No  wonder,  then,  that  your  young  men  were  found  side  by  side  with 
those  of  Mississippi  in  carrying  the  flag  from  Buena  Vista  and  Vera 
Cruz  to  the  City  of  Mexico  !* 

This  war  marked  the  high  tide  of  the  disposition  to  yield  to  the 
demands  of  the  slave  power,  and  from  its  close  the  right  of  freedom  to 
be  the  ruling  principle  in  the  establishment  of  new  States  was  more 
and  more  boldly  proclaimed  and  defended.  Southern  leaders  became 
desperate.  They  repealed  all  the  time-honored  compromises  and 
demanded  that  slavery  should  be  regarded  as  a  national  institution,  pro- 
tected by  the  Constitution  in  all  the  territories.  They  procured  legisla- 
tion which  asserted  this,  but  still  they  were  disappointed.  They  saw  to 
their  amazement  the  marvelous  vigor  of  free-industry  take  possession 
of  California  and  Kansas ;  they  heard  the  free  farmers  of  the  North 
declare  in  the  election  of  Lincoln  that  there  should  be  no  more  slave 
States  created,  and  they  plunged  into  rebellion  and  secession  in  the 
vain  hope  of  dividing  the  nation  they  could  no  longer  rule. 

Such,  then,  are  the  three  periods  we  have  had  to  consider.  First, 
that  of  the  establishment  and  subsequent  consolidation  of  our  national 
independence ;  second,  the  sacrifice  of  life  and  of  honor  that  was  made 
to  save  the  union  upon  the  basis  of  yielding  to  the  slave  power  all  it 
demanded;  and  third,  the  maintenance  of  national  unity  in  spite  of 

*NOTE— The  speech  of  Thomas  Corwin,  which  is  alluded  to  above,  is  the  one  in  which 
occurred  the  famous  passage,  "If  I  were  a  Mexican  as  I  am  an  American,  I  would  welcome 
the  invaders  with  blood y  hands  to  hospitable  graves." 


45 

gigantic  rebellion,  and  with  the  result  of  giving  freedom  to  millions  of 
slaves.  In  each  effort  Sandusky  County  offered  its  sacrifices,  and  in 
each  there  were  brave  men  worthy  to  be  remembered  as  you  are 
remembering  them  to-day. 

Let  us  look  a  little  more  closely  at  the  condition  of  the  country 
about  us  in  the  first  of  these  periods,  when  Major  Croghan  performed 
the  brilliant  exploit  which  has  made  his  name  immortal. 

In  18 13  there  was  no  city  of  Fremont.  Even  Lower  Sandusky,  as  the 
spot  was  called,  had  not  yet  become  a  civilized  town  and  only  marked  the 
place  where  a  village  of  Wyandot  Indians  had  long  been  known.  Fort 
Stephen  son  covered  the  pretty  knoll  now  occupied  by  the  City  Hall, 
the  Birchard  Library,  and  the  monument.  But  what  was  it?  A  feeble 
earth  work  surrounded  by  a  ditch  and  stockade,  with  a  little  block- 
house at  the  southwest  corner,  which  served  as  a  sort  of  bastion  to  en- 
filade or  sweep  the  ditch.  Its  garrison  was  a  mere  handful  of  men,  its 
only  artillery  a  single  six-pound  gun.  No  legalized  white  settlement 
had  been  made  on  the  lake  shore  in  Ohio  west  of  the  Cuyahoga  River, 
for  the  treaty  boundary  with  the  Indians  followed  the  old  trail  from  the 
new  village  of  Cleveland  up  the  river  till  it  reached  the  dividing  ridge, 
then  cro-sed  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Tuscarawas  and  followed  that 
stream  southward  to  old  Fort  Laurens.  From  this  point  the  boundary 
went  westward  and  southward  toward  Piqua  and  Greenville,  in  the 
western  part  of  the  State.  The  tide  of  civilized  migration  had  only 
lately  crossed  the  Ohio.  Cincinnati  had  been  established  as  a  trading 
place  about  Fort  Washington.  Dayton  and  Chillicothe  were  thriving 
villages,  off-shoots  from  the  migration  following  the  lower  Ohio  valley. 
A  beginning  had  been  made  at  Columbus,  but  it  was  not  yet  the  capital 
of  the  State.  At  Zanesville  a  settlement  was  begun.  At  Marietta  was 
a  vigorous  colony  of  New  England  men  who  had  been  the  first  to  make 
a  solid  foot-hold  in  the  great  northwest  territory.  The  Western  Reserve 
was  marked  out  and  in  the  hands  of  the  Connecticut  Land  Company 
eastward  from  Cleveland.  But  from  the  Cuyahoga  westward,  the 
Indians  still  held  dominant  sway.  The  Wyandots  or  Hurons  were 
the  lords  of  the  land.  The  Six  Nations  and  the  Delawares,  retreating 
from  the  east,  had  here  found  a  temporary  resting  place.  The  Shawnees 
and  the  Miamis,  crowded  back  from  the  South,  were  sojourning  with 
their  kindred,  the  Miamis  of  the  Lake,  in  the  fastnesses  of  the  Black 
Swamp  and  in  the  fertile  bottoms  of  the  Maumee.  Bands  of  Pottawat- 
tomies  were  also  among  them.  The  treaty  had  provided  for  a  road 
from  Cleveland  to  Detroit,  which  had  been  a  fort  and  settlement  from 
the  early  days  of  the  French  occupancy  of  Canada  and  the  upper 


46 

lakes,  and  this  road,  crossing  the  Sandusky  where  we  now  stand,  passed 
on  to  Fort  Meigs  and  Fort  Miami,  where  Perrysburg  and  Toledo  have 
since  been  built.  A  reservation  to  the  United  States  of  one  mile  on 
either  side  the  road,  was  more  or  less  occupied  by  adventurous  pioneers, 
but  when  hostilities  with  the  Indians  followed  the  declaration  of  war 
with  England  in  1812,  these  were  soon  driven  in  or  destroyed. 

The  whole  northwestern  quarter  of  the  State,  therefore,  was  Indian 
territory,  and  its  tribes,  confederated  by  the  genius  of  Tecumseh,  a  man 
of  no  ordinary  power,  were  banded  with  the  red  nations  of  Indiana 
and  the  greater  west  to  resist  the  further  advance  of  the  whites.  The 
forts  were  only  isolated  out-posts  in  the  midst  of  hostile  territory  built 
to  protect  the  communications  of  the  army  with  the  more  distant  posts 
at  Chicago  and  Detroit.  For  this  purpose  Fort  Stephenson  was  built 
here  at  Lower  Sandusky,  on  the  hostile  side  of  the  river,  so  that  a 
•crossing  might  always  be  in  the  power  of  our  troops.  Here  was  the 
promise  of  a  frontier  place  of  importance,  both  for  trade  with  the 
Indians  in  time  of  peace,  and  a  depot  of  supplies  for  interior  settle- 
ments as  they  might  be  formed.  In  these  days  of  railways  we  forget 
the  navigable  connection  with  the  lake  which  made  the  foot  of  the 
rapids  the  natural  place  of  transshipment  for  the  lake  commerce,  com- 
ing by  the  great  watery  highway  of  trade  from  east  to  west.  Viewed 
from  the  stand  point  of  that  time,  Lower  Sandusky  was  one  of  the 
most  important  posts  and  promised  to  be  one  of  the  most  important 
business  centers  in  northern  Ohio.  Fort  Stephenson,  therefore,  was 
well  and  wisely  located  to  give  protection  to  our  growing  settlements 
and  to  become  the  nucleus  of  a  vigorous  colony.  It  is  only  when  we 
remember  all  this  that  we  fully  appreciate  its  military  importance  and 
the  necessity  of  holding  it  with  a  firm  and  determined  grasp. 

The  English,  taking  advantage  of  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  In- 
dians, as  they  supposed  they  had  the  right  to  do,  made  alliances  with 
them,  and  gave  Tecumseh  the  rank  of  a  general  in  their  army.  Out  of 
this  alliance  grew  the  great  peril  of  the  frontier.  Only  a  little  while 
before,  the  fort  where  Chicago  now  stands  had  surrendered  upon  a 
promise  of  protection  to  the  lives  of  the  garrison  by  the  English  ;  but 
the  savages  had  disregarded  the  agreement  which  the  English  troops 
were  not  strong  enough  to  enforce,  and  the  prisoners  had  been  massa- 
cred and  scalped.  Still  more  recently  a  force  under  Winchester  in  the 
Maumee  Valley  had  surrendered  on  the  same  promise,  and  these,  too, 
had  been  butchered  at  the  River  Raisin.  A  still  more  fearful  and 
hopeless  peril  lurked  about  the  cabin  door  of  every  white  settler  in  the 
west.  Even  death  by  the  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife  seemed  mercy 


47 

Itself,  compared  to  the  atrocious  tortures  which  all  the  tribes  but  the 
Wyandots  were  in  the  habit  of  inflicting  upon  their  captives,  and  of 
which  we  have  so  fearful  a  picture  in  the  blood-curdling  story  of  the 
capture  and  death  of  Colonel  Crawford  a  little  earlier  in  our  history. 

It  may  well  have  been  that  the  expectation  of  such  a  fate  if  they 
surrendered,  nerved  the  hearts  and  arms  of  Major  Croghan  and  his 
little  garrison  here  to  dare  any  fate  but  that,  and  to  resolve  to  die,  if 
need  be,  but  never  to  be  taken.  From  where  we  stand,  we  can  see  the 
sunlight  glancing  from  the  waters  of  the  river  through  the  hollow  below, 
which  the  British  gun-boats  landed  Just  behind  the  court  house  there, 
is  the  gentle  rise  of  ground  where  Proctor  planted  his  artillery  and 
opened  his  fire  upon  the  fort.  Across  the  very  ground  where  you  have 
built  the  platform,  the  flag  of  truce  advanced,  which  summoned 
Croghan  to  yield  to  the  overwhelming  superiority  of  force,  whilst  yet 
the  English  commander  could  restrain  his  savage  allies. 

And  yet  even  this  does  not  sum  up  all  the  discouragements  of 
Croghan's  position.  He  had  just  gone  through  an  ordeal  almost  as  try- 
ing to  a  proud  spirited  officer  as  to  surrender  to  a  foe.  The  department 
was  under  the  command  of  a  wise  and  brave  man,  who  both  before  and 
afterward  signalized  his  courage  and  his  skill,  General  William  Henry 
Harrison.  He  had  been  for  a  short  time  at  Upper  Sandusky,  hasten- 
ing the  assembling  of  a  little  army  with  which  he  hoped  to  take  the 
aggressive,  and  was  sorely  disappointed  by  the  slow  rate  at  which  his 
reinforcements  could  thread  the  paths  of  the  new  country.  Three  or 
four  hundred  dragoons  were  all  he  had  when  the  news  of  Proctor's 
expedition  reached  him.  A  regiment  from  Kentucky  was  on  its  way, 
but  had  not  yet  arrived.  A  brigade  was  organizing  on  the  Reserve 
under  General  Simon  Perkins,  but  was  not  yet  ready  to  take  the  field. 
It  seemed  wiser  to  Harrison  to  avoid  fighting  until  his  force  was  greater, 
and  as  the  garrison  at  Fort  Stephenson  was  a  mere  handful  compared 
to  the  advancing  enemy,  he  ordered  Croghan  to  evacuate  the  place  and 
join  him.  Such  a  command  often  seems  to  a  young  officer  to  imply  a 
suspicion  of  his  valor  or  his  capacity,  and  stung,  perhaps,  by  this  view 
of  it,  Major  Croghan  sent  back  a  reply  which  well  nigh  cost  him  his 
commission  :  "  We  are  able  to  hold  the  place,  and,  by  heaven,  we 
will!"  He  was  relieved  of  the  command  and  ordered  to  Harrison's 
headquarters  in  arrest,  but  when  the  general  saw  the  man  and  knew 
that  his  confidence  was  that  of  true  courage  and  no  mere  vaporing,  he 
easily  accepted  the  explanation  that  the  terms  of  Croghan's  reply  had 
been  worded  with  the  expectation  that  the  dispatch  might  fall  into  the 
enemy's  hands,  and  in  that  case  he  wished  to  impress  them  with  the 


48 

danger  of  an  assault.  We  may  well  doubt  whether  this  was  not  merely 
a  convenient  interpretation  to  reach  an  understanding  which  both 
officers  desired,  but  it  served  its  purpose  and  Harrison  sent  back  the 
young  hero  to  resume  his  defence,  just  as  the  British  entered  the  river. 
The  portrait  which  President  Hayes  has  placed  in  the  Library,  and 
which  now  adorns  the  stand,  well  bespeaks  the  character  of  young 
Croghan  and  his  singular  beauty  of  person.  Only  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  full  of  the  hardy  courage  of  the  frontier,  an  experienced  woods- 
man, closely  connected  with  George  Rogers  Clarke,  the  most  striking 
figure  in  the  military  annals  of  the  northwest  territory,  you  cannot  look 
upon  that  face  without  feeling  that  it  represented  one  of  nature's  noble- 
men, full  of  intellect  and  feeling,  as  well  as  of  soldierly  courage  and 
hardihood.  It  was  a  happy  conjuncture  for  his  country  when  the  time 
and  the  man  thus  came  together. 

I  cannot  stop  to  relate  all  the  details  of  the  fight.  What  need  ! 
They  are  better  known  to  you  than  to  me.  The  hot  cannonade  stub- 
bornly endured  without  reply, — the  midnight  transfer  of  the  single  gun 
into  the  blockhouse  when  it  could  rake  the  ditch  at  the  point  the  con- 
centrated fire  indicated  as  Proctor's  place  of  assault, — the  weary  con- 
tinuance of  the  skirmishing  through  another  day — the  gathering  of  the 
foeman's  columns  in  the  dusk  of  evening, — the  rush,  the  fierce  clamor 
of  the  assault  while  the  savage  war  whoop  echoed  through  the  sur- 
rounding forest — the  red-coats  swarming  in  the  ditch — the  unmasking 
of  the  blockhouse  gun  and  its  quick  discharge,  loaded  to  the  muzzle 
with  bullets,  iron  scraps,  and  nails, — the  dismay  of  the  enemy,  the 
carnage,  the  fall  of  the  leaders,  the  retreac,  the  shouts  of  victory  in  the 
little  garrison  now  covered  with  glory, — all  these  things  you  remember, 
and  the  monument  you  have  erected  is  to  commemorate  them ! 

Such  monuments  tell  much  more  than  the  few7  words  which  are 
engraved  upon  them.  They  provoke  our  children  to  inquire  what  they 
mean,  and  to  draw  out  from  us  the  full  history  of  the  olden  time  The 
children  of  Israel  were  commanded  to  sprinkle  the  blood  of  the  pass- 
over  upon  their  door  posts  and  to  eat  the  paschal  lamb  with  their  loins 
girt  as  if  for  travel,  and  when  their  children  asked  what  all  this  meant, 
they  were  to  tell  how  the  Lord  brought  them  out  of  Egypt.  Let  our 
soldiers'  monuments  do  the  like  for  us,  and  may  they  incite  unborn 
generations  to  learn  the  story  of  their  fathers'  conflicts  in  ''times  that 
tried  men's  souls."  The  Fort  Stephenson  fight  was  typical  of  its  period. 
It  was  at  once  part  of  the  final  struggle  for  independence,  and  a  type  of 
the  desperate  conflict  of  the  frontiersman  with  savage  hordes,  with  wild 
beasts,  and  with  the  unsubdued  wilderness  itself. 


49 

In  the  war  with  Mexico,  our  soldiers  met  with  a  very  different  ex- 
perience. They  did  not  have  the  stimulus  of  self-preservation,  of  fight- 
ing for  home  and  in  defence  of  the  dear  ones  under  the  cabin  roof. 
They  went  beyond  the  limits  of  their  own  country  into  a  tropical  region 
of  which  they  knew  next  to  nothing,  to  meet  an  enemy  against  whom 
they  could  not  feel  any  deep  antagonism,  and  whose  defence  of  their 
own  land  they  could  not  but  respect.  There  was  something  of  the 
excitement  of  romance,  and  fighting  itself  gives  to  the  soldier  the  zeal 
for  conquest;  yet  the  prevailing  motive  must  have  been  that  of  duty 
with  but  little  inclination  to  the  task.  Their  country  called  them,  and 
without  inquiring  if  the  country  was  right  or  wrong,  they  obeyed  the 
call.  Captain  Thompson  and  Captain  Bradley  bravely  led  your  San- 
dusky  County  young  men,  and  the  soldiers'  monument  honors  their 
memory  as  well  as  that  of  their  fathers,  or  their  sons,  who  fell  in  con- 
flicts, which  the  judgment  of  history  puts  on  a  higher  plane  of  neces- 
sity and  of  right. 

But  it  was  the  great  struggle  of  our  own  time  whose  memories 
chiefly  moved  you  to  erect  this  monument;  a  struggle  that  was  to 
determine  whether  we  had  a  land  worth  living  in.  In  thinking  of  it, 
we  are  lost  in  its  magnitude.  Your  interest  in  it  is  not  limited  to  a 
single  brilliant  event  like  the  defence  of  the  fort,  or  to  a  few  scattered 
soldiers  who  went  forth  from  your  midst;  but  every  township,  almost 
every  family,  was  so  fully  represented  that  the  history  comes  home  to 
every  farm  house,  and  the  story  is  that  of  the  joys  and  griefs  of  the 
whole  community. 

The  statistical  history  which  Captain  Lemmon  has  read  to  you,  is 
simply  astonishing  in  its  long  array  of  figures  and  of  tables.  Yet  never 
were  figures  more  interesting.  Indeed,  they  are  more  eloquent  than 
words.  They  gather  up  the  results  of  your  efforts  in  the  great  contest 
with  a  cumulative  power  which  makes  us  hold  our  breath  as  we  try  to 
realize  how  the  young  life,  the  wealth,  the  energy  and  the  industry  of 
the  whole  people  were  thrown  into  the  struggle  without  reserve  and 
without  even  counting  the  cost.  It  was  not  only  that  the  young  men 
who  enlisted  from  the  county  numbered  by  thousands ;  that  the  regi- 
ments and  organizations  in  which  they  served  must  be  reckoned  by 
scores ;  that  their  valor  was  shown  on  so  many  fields  that  there  was 
neither  room  nor  time  to  enumerate  them ;  but  besides  this,  what  a 
wonderful  array  it  was  of  the  labors  of  our  noble  and  patriotic  women 
at  home  to  relieve  the  sufferings  of  the  soldier  in  the  field  and  in  the 
hospital !  In  the  face  of  such  a  grouping  of  the  items  which  make  up 
the  overwhelming  total  of  your  county's  share  in  the  great  cau&e,  any 


50 

sketch  of  it  as  a  whole  which  I  could  give  would  seem  vain  and  meager. 
Let  me  confine  myself,  therefore,  to  bearing  some  personal  testimony  to 
the  brave  conduct  of  your  soldiers,  as  faintly  illustrating  points  here 
and  there  in  their  military  history. 

They  served  in  so  many  campaigns  in  all  parts  of  the  great  theatre 
of  war,  that  no  one  who  had  himself  been  in  the  army,  could  fail  to 
recall  scenes  in  which  his  own  experience  was  not  theirs  also,  and  of 
which  he  could  not  give  a  comrade's  account.  As  I  heard  the  names  of 
persons  and  of  regiments  read,  I  found  myself  saying,  step  by  step, 
that  regiment  I  have  seen  in  action ;  that  other  regiment  was  with  me 
at  such  a  place ;  this  one  I  met  on  such  a  famous  field !  Indeed,  it 
turns  out  as  I  listen  to  the  story,  that  there  is  scarcely  a  month,  nay, 
scarcely  a  day  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  war,  in  which  I 
cannot  say  I  was  a  witness  to  the  soldierly  devotion  of  the  good  men  of 
Sandusky  County. 

At  President  Lincoln's  first  call  to  arms,  when  he  asked  for 
seventy-five  thousand  volunteers  to  preserve  the  nation's  existence,  your 
towns  responded  promptly,  and  two  full  companies  were  embodied  in 
the  Eighth  Ohio  regiment.  I  remember  that  early  gathering  of  Ohio 
soldiers  as  if  it  were  yesterday!  They  came  to  Columbus  without 
uniforms,  without  arms,  with  haversacks  which  mothers  and  sisters 
had  hastily  made  and  filled  with  provisions  for  the  first  march.  They 
slept  upon  the  stone  floor  of  the  State  House,  and  made  its  arches  ring 
with  their  prayers  and  hymns,  which  mingled  with  the  martial  din  of 
drum  and  fife!  From  the  halls  of  the  legislature  they  wrote  home  their 
first  letters  and  renewed  their  consecration  for  life  or  death  to  their 
country's  cause. 

The  Eighth  Ohio  reported  to  me  at  Camp  Dennison,  where  they 
learned  the  rudiments  of  soldier  life.  They  were  fresh  from  the  villages 
and  the  farms.  They  were  of  that  thrifty  and  well-to-do  class  of  Amer- 
icans who  had  been  used  to  comforts  approaching  to  luxury.  They  had 
been  well  housed,  but  now  they  must  find  shelter  in  a  fence  corner  till 
they  could  carry  the  plank  and  build  their  rude  barracks  upon  the 
company  street  of  their  camp.  They  had  been  used  to  the  abundant 
tables  of  well-cooked  food  which  their  mothers  had  spread  for1  them, 
but  now  they  must  draw  their  uncooked  rations  of  a  few  simple  articles 
of  coarse  food,  and  spoil  many  a  meal  before  they  could  learn  the  neces- 
sary art  of  camp  cooking.  Later,  I  saw  them  in  West  Virginia,  learn- 
ing in  that  mountain  region  to  make  long  and  hard  marches ;  to  be 
ever  on  the  alert  in  a  guerilla  warfare,  and  to  become  hardy,  brave  and 
self-reliant  soldiers.  There  they  laid  the  foundation  for  the  soldierly 


51 

character  which  they  afterward  showed  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull 
HUD,  at  Chancellorsville,  at  Gettysburg,  and  in  the  Wilderness,  under 
that  gallant  soldier  and  officer,  Spriggs  Carroll. 

How  was  it  with  some  of  the  rest  ?  The  Seventy-second  regiment 
contained  the  greatest  number  of  Sandusky  County  men,  eight  of  its  ten 
companies  being  raised  here.  Hardly  organized,  they  were  pushed  for- 
ward, while  yet  green,  to  Southern  Tennessee,  where,  at  Shiloh,  in 
Sherman's  division,  and  under  your  respected  fellow-citizen,  Colonel 
Buckland,  as  their  brigade  commander,  they  bravely  met  the  foe,  and 
were  riddled  by  rebel  bullets  on  that  famous  sixth  of  April,  1862. 
Early  that  morning,  at  the  beat  of  the  '  long  roll,'  they  were  in  their 
places,  ready  to  do  all  that  men  could  do  to  beat  back  the  rushing  onset 
of  the  Confederate  army.  They  were  not  surprised,  asleep  in  their 
tents,  as  it  was  for  a  time  the  fashion  to  tell  the  story,  but  by  Buckland's 
watchful  courage  the  attack  was  anticipated  and  prepared  for  as  fully 
as  an  inferior  force  could  prepare.  Overpowered  by  numbers  and  far 
out-flanked,  they  were  slowly  driven  back,  yielding  only  step  by  step, 
and  ever  turning  in  good  order  to  face  the  foe,  from  early  morning  till 
sunset,  proving  themselves  worthy  of  the  good  leaders  who  commanded 
them.  With  nightfall  came  Buell's  army,  with  others  of  the  Sandusky 
County  boys  in  its  ranks,  and  on  the  morrow  Grant,  strong  in  his  rein- 
forcements, led  them  to  decisive  victory. 

It  was  not  my  fortune  to  see  them  there,  but  quite  late  in  the  war 
I  saw  the  little  remnant  of  the  regiment  in  one  of  the  noblest  feats  of 
arms  of  which  our  history  tells.  It  was  in  the  battle  of  Nashville,  near 
the  right  of  General  Thomas'  line,  on  the  second  and  decisive  day  of 
that  important  battle.  The  Confederate  army  had  entrenched  a  long 
line  of  hills  running  east  and  west,  then  turning  sharply  southward  in 
front  of  our  right.  In  the  angle  was  a  high  knoll,  since  famous  as  Shy's 
hill,  and  in  the  hollow  before  it,  crowding  in  front  of  the  trenches, 
which  had  been  pushed  close  to  the  enemy  upon  the  opposite  slope, 
was  McMillan's  brigade,  containing  what  was  left  of  your  Seventy- 
second.  It  was  my  fortune  to  be  beside  General  Thomas,  that  after- 
noon, at  the  time  the  signal  for  the  final  assault  was  given,  and  we  were 
awaiting  the  movement  which  McMillan  was  to  begin.  In  a  moment 
the  dark  line  moved  forward  up  the  hill,  rushing  impetuously  as  they 
neared  the  top,  where  they  were  lost  to  view  in  the  great  white  puffs  of 
cannon  smoke  as  the  enemy's  batteries  opened  upon  them.  But  we 
heard  a  thundering  cheer  that  was  not  a  "rebel  yell"  and  knew  that 
the  gallant  charge  was  a  success,  and  that  Hood's  line  was  broken !  To 
right  and  to  left  the  Union  ranks  had  also  charged  in  generous  emula- 


tion  of  the  little  brigade  that  had  led,  and  the  whole  Confederate  army 
broke  away  in  disorganized  rout,  the  lines  of  blue  rushing  over  them 
pell-mell !  Among  those  who  went  forward  in  that  leading  line  were 
boys  who  had  gone  from  the  farms  and  shops  of  Sandusky  County. 
Some  may  be  here  to-day,  blushing  to  hear  their  praises  sounded,  or 
tearfully  recalling  the  noble  comrades  who  fell  in  the  fierce  assault. 
Vividly  it  all  comes  back  as  we  look  across  the  twenty  years  that  inter- 
vene, and  we  dream  we  still  hear  the  "tramp,  tramp,  tramp,"  as  "the 
boys  are  marching ! " 

Again,  I  find  you  were  represented  in  the  Hundredth  and  Hun- 
dred-and-Eleventh  Ohio.  What  of  them  ?  I  think  I  can  tell  you  inci- 
dents of  their  career  which  came  under  my  own  eye  and  which  will 
prove  them  worthy  comrades  of  the  rest.  My  personal  acquaintance 
with  them  began  in  the  winter  of  1863-4,  in  East  Tennessee,  when  they 
had  served  under  Burnside  in  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  and  had  taken 
part  in  the  repulse  of  the  famous  assault  by  Longstreet,  a  combat  as 
desperate  and  decisive  as  that  which  raged  in  the  ditch  of  Fort  Stephen- 
son  here,  but  where  the  combatants  counted  as  many  thousands  as  here 
they  counted  scores.  When  I  took  command  of  the  Twenty-third  army 
corps  in  December,  they  were  part  of  it,  and  in  thinking  of  that  time 
memory  recalls  scenes  of  heroic  endurance  of  privation,  and  patriotic 
devotion  under  trying  circumstances,  such  as  have  rarely  been  matched. 

We  have,  all  our  lives,  been  used  to  admire  the  constancy  and 
shudder  at  the  sufferings  of  the  soldiers  of  our  first  great  Revolution, 
under  Washington  at  Valley  Forge.  Their  camp  of  log  huts  in  the 
midst  of  the  winter  snows ;  their  scant  clothing ;  their  marching  over 
frozen  ground,  leaving  the  prints  of  their  feet  in  blood,  are  incidents 
which  have  justly  been  used  to  prove  their  heroism  and  boundless  love 
of  country.  But  I  am  within  the  limits  of  strictest  truth  when  I  say 
that  in  that  winter  in  East  Tennessee  every  feature  of  these  sufferings 
was  literally  repeated  and  some  of  them  intensified.  Let  me  try  to 
give  you  a  single  picture.  On  New  Year's  eve,  of  1864,  a  terrible 
cyclone  of  frosty  wind  swept  down  from  the  north-west  over  the  whole 
valley  of  the  Ohio  and  Tennessee,  reaching  and  searching  with  its  blasts 
the  whole  region  to  the  base  of  the  Great  Smoky  mountains  of  North 
Carolina.  From  a  mild  evening  on  the  31st  of  December,  the  ther- 
mometer fell  in  a  single  hour  to  zero.  It  struck  the  little  army  in  East 
Tennessee  when  they  were  in  the  worst  possible  condition  to  resist  its 
influence.  During  the  siege  of  Knoxville  they  had  been  shut  out  from 
all  communication  with  their  base  of  Supplies,  and  when  the  siege  was 
raised  and  Longstreet  retreated,  the  winter  had  set  in,  and  the  long 


53 

mountain  roads  across  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  to  the  Ohio  river  were 
impassable.  Chattanooga  also  had  been  beleaguered,  and  no  supplies 
could  come  by  that  route.  Clothing  was  worn  out,  the  commissariat 
was  exhausted,  and  the  troops  had  to  live  upon  the  scanty  food  that 
could  be  bought  or  got  by  foraging  in  the  country.  Their  tents  were 
in  rags,  and  what  was  left  of  them  had  to  be  taken  for  clothing.  The 
activity  of  the  enemy  forbade  the  building  of  cantonments,  and  the 
men  had  to  bivouac  in  the  open  air,  sheltered  only  by  such  booths  as 
they  could  hastily  make  from  the  limbs  of  trees.  On  that  New  Year's 
morning,  the  morning  of  happy  greetings  and  general  joy  the  whole 
civilized  world  over,  I  went  down  through  the  camp  to  say  such  cheer- 
ful or  hopeful  words  as  I  could  to  our  suffering  men.  I  found  them 
huddling  about  the  camp  fires  in  every  stage  of  raggedness  and  destitu- 
tion. Few  had  overcoats,  some  had  no  coats  at  all,  many  had  no  shoes, 
and  one  poor  fellow  without  pantaloons  and  with  an  old  blanket  pulled 
around  him  like  a  petticoat,  was  roasting  a  few  grains  of  corn  he  had 
collected  and  washed  from  the  dung  where  the  mules  stood.  To  my 
sympathetic  greeting  he  answered,  "It's  pretty  rough,  General,  but 
we'll  see  it  through  ! "  And  that  was  the  spirit  that  pervaded  that 
whole  camp.  They  would  see  it  through !  Aye,  and  right  nobly  they 
made  good  their  words.  Their  first  term  of  enlistment  was  near  expir- 
ing, but  Abraham  Lincoln,  in  the  name  of  the  country,  had  called  upon 
the  veterans  to  re-enlist,  and  in  the  very  depth  of  that  time  of  distress 
we  heard  the  cheers  arising  from  one  and  another  of  the  regimental 
camps,  as  they  completed  the  organization  of  the  regiment  for  another 
"three  years  or  the  war!"  I  challenge  history  to  produce  any- 
where another  such  example  of  absolute  devotion  to  a  country  and 
a  cause !  You  will  not  wonder  that  I  am  proud  to  meet  here  again 
comrades  who  were  thus  tried  and  not  found  wanting,  nor  that  it  is  a 
satisfaction  to  remember  that  that  was  the  beginning  of  two  year's  close 
association  with  such  men,  reaching  through  the  constant  fighting  of 
the  Atlanta  campaign;  through  that  most  bitter  of  all  fights,  the  battle 
of  Franklin;  through  the  campaign  of  Nashville,  and  another  upon  the 
coast  of  North  Carolina,  till  it  was  our  good  fortune  to  receive  the  sur- 
render of  General  Joe  Johnston  at  Greensboro,  almost  upon  the  battle- 
field of  one  of  the  historic  engagements  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 

But  the  list  is  far  from  being  ended.  Your  men  were  in  the  Fifty- 
fifth  also,  under  Col  >uel  Lee.  With  these  I  served  in  that  first  moun- 
tain campaign  of  West  Virginia,  to  which  I  have  already  referred.  I 
saw  them  again  when  they  came  back  to  Washington  at  the  close  of 
Pope's  campaign  oi  1862.  They  had  served  under  Fremont  in  the 


54 

Shenandoah;  they  had  fought  gallantly  "with  Siegel"  at  the  second 
Bull  Run,  and  were  still  to  give  proof  of  their  soldierly  quality  at 
Chancellorsville  and  at  Gettysburg.  Again,  I  met  them  in  Georgia, 
at  Resacca,  and  can  attest  their  good  service  till,  Atlanta  taken,  they 
marched  away  to  the  sea  with  Sherman. 

Then  there  was  Gibson's  Forty-ninth,  which  had  seen  its  first  ser- 
vice under  Robert  Anderson  in  Kentucky;  had  inarched  with  Buell  to 
Grant's  relief  at  Shiloh;  had  fought  under  Rosecrans  at  Stone  River; 
had  gone  through  the  fire  at  Chickamauga;  had  shared  the  glory  of 
Mission  Ridge,  and  had  then  come  to  our  relief  at  Knoxville,  thence- 
forth to  be  part  of  the  same  grand  army  with  us,  so  that  to  them  also  I  can 
truthfully  say,  we  are  not  strangers,  but  brothers-in-arms,  and  I  have 
been  a  personal  witness  to  your  patriotism  and  your  glory ! 

Even  with  some  who  were  not  called  upon  to  perform  the  more 
arduous  and  perilous  duties  of  the  field  it  was  my  fortune  to  be  associ- 
ated for  a  little  while,  and  to  learn  that  there  were  duties  which  could 
be  honorably  performed  that  were  quite  as  necessary  as  any  that  we  did 
elsewhere.  In  the  fall  of  1863  an  alarm  sounded  through  the  country 
that  John  Morgan's  men,  who  had  escaped  to  Canada,  were  organizing 
a  descent  upon  the  military  prison  at  Johnson's  Island,  in  Sandusky 
bay,  and  I  was  sent  there  in  haste,  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  provide 
for  its  defence.  There  I  found  the  Hoffman  batallion,  the  nucleus  of 
what  became  the  Hundred  and  twenty-eighth  Ohio,  in  which  you  were 
also  represented.  I  do  not  know  whether  your  Sandusky  County  con- 
tingent had  then  joined  that  regiment,  but  I  do  know  the  character  of 
the  delicate  and  responsible  duty  they  performed  there,  in  guarding 
the  Confederate  officers  to  whom  that  military  prison  was  assigned.  No 
charges  of  unnecessary  severity  can  be  made  against  them ;  no  suspicion 
of  remissness  of  duty  or  unfaithfulness  to  their  trust  ever  tarnished 
their  fame.  They  did  their  duty  well  and  faithfully  when  they  were 
assigned  to  do  it,  and  for  such,  as  well  as  the  others,  your  monument 
is  reared. 

To  a  considerable  number  of  your  young  men  befell  that  saddest  of 
all  fates,  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  and  undergo  the  horrors 
of  the  prison-pen  at  Andersonville.  As  so  large  a  proportion  of  your 
volunteers  were  in  the  Seventy-second  regiment,  and  as  the  lamentable 
affair  at  Guntown,  Mississippi,  resulted  in  the  capture  of  many  of  them, 
you  have  as  a  community  been  forced  to  know  more  of  the  miseries 
worse  than  wounds,  worse,  a  thousand  fold  worse,  than  death  on  the 
battle-field,  which  came  to  those  who  lost  their  liberty  while  fighting  for 
their  country.  God  forbid  that  I  should  stir  up  the  embers  of  strife 


55 

over  the  responsibility  for  the  condition  of  the  prisoners  in  that  place 
of  doom,  worse  than  any  scene  in  the  Inferno  that  Dante  has  pictured. 
I  deal  only  with  the  historical  fact  that  your  brothers  and  sons  suffered 
there  such  horrors  that  those  who  died  quickly  were  to  be  deemed 
happy,  and  that  they  are  those  whom  we  may  not  forget  or  pass  by 
when  we  speak  of  those  whom  this  monumental  shaft  shall  commemo- 
rate. Neither  is  it  my  province  to  criticise  the  conduct  of  the  affair  in 
which  they  were  captured.  We  came  to  bury  them,  and  to  record 
their  sufferings  for  their  country,  not  to  accuse  any  as  its  cause,  whether 
friend  or  foe. 

As  I  could  speak  from  my  own  knowledge  of  the  glorious  career 
of  so  many  of  your  friends,  so,  alas,  in  the  strange  experiences  of  the 
war,  I  was  forced  to  see  the  terrible  results  of  imprisonment  at  Ander- 
sonville  and  Salisbury,  upon  men  who  had  been  models  of  physical 
strength  and  mental  endurance,  toughened  by  months  and  years  of  life 
in  the  field.  In  North  Carolina,  in  the  spring  of  1865,  it  became  my 
duty  to  receive  a  train  load  of  our  soldiers  who  came  from  the  Confed- 
erate prisons,  and  were  handed  over  in  exchange  for  some  which  Sher- 
man's army  had  captured.  Among  them  may  well  have  been  some  of 
your  own  neighbors,  for  they  came  from  the  prisons  where  your  men  of 
the  Seventy-second  had  been  confined.  Emaciated  beyond  recognition 
by  the  mothers  that  bore  them ;  mere  skeletons,  without  the  strength  to 
free  themselves  from  the  dirt  in  which  they  lay ;  the  intelligence  gone 
out  of  their  faces,  they  hardly  seemed  to  be  human  beings.  Their 
famished  and  diseased  condition  was  such  that  the  most  trifling  injury 
became  gangreened  and  ulcerous.  Starvation  and  sickness  had  broken 
down  the  minds  of  many  of  them,  and  they  gazed  vacantly,  with  almost 
idiotic  stare,  out  of  the  car  windows,  unable  to  comprehend  that  liberty 
had  come  to  them  and  that  tender  nursing  and  care  awaited  them,  but 
they  seemed  indifferent  to  all  that  happened,  and  not  to  know  or  care 
whither  they  were  going.  Too  utterly  broken  down  even  to  respond 
by  a  look  to  the  stirring  refrain  of  your  camp  song  which  promised 
they  ''should  breathe  the  air  of  freedom  once  again,"  they  could  not 
comprehend  that  they  were  no  longer  captives.  Our  surgeons  strove  to 
stimulate  them  by  asking  the  names  of  fathers,  of  mothers,  of  brothers, 
of  sisters — to  remind  them  of  home  and  give  them  new  life  by  making 
them  tell  of  the  comforts  and  affection  awaiting  them.  Many  were  too 
far  gone  even  for  this,  and  could  give  but  a  blank,  demented  stare 
in  response.  Not  a  few  'died  and  made  no  sign,'  not  even  arousing 
enough  to  know  that  they  were  free  or  to  give  the  name  that  might  be 


56 

put  upon  the  head-board  of  their  grave.  'Unknown'  was  all  that  could 
be  written  there !  And  for  those  that  did  recover,  the  way  was  as  a 
path  out  of  the  valley  ot  the  shadow  of  death.  With  little  doses  of 
good  nourishment,  and  with  skillful  medical  treatment,  they  came 
slowly  back  to  life  to  tell  a  story  of  horrors  endured  for  their  country's 
cause  such  as  would  have  been  thought  the  mad  invention  of  delirium 
if  their  pitiful  physical  condition  had  not  borne  witness  to  the  unspeak- 
able things  they  had  endured. 

With  all  these  things  in  our  minds,  can  we  doubt  that  this  monu- 
ment will  teach  its  lesson  to  your  children,  and  your  children's  children 
coming  after  you?  Will  they  not  hang  breathless  on  the  tale  as  you' 
repeat  to  them  the  gallant  deeds  and  the  heroic  sufferings  of  your  valiant 
soldiers,  the  dead  and  the  living?  Will  not  the  lesson,  that  men  can 
thus  do  and  die  for  their  country,  be  one  worth  teaching,  and  that  will 
make  them  nobler  and  better  in  their  generation  than  if  they  had  not 
succeeded  to  such  a  priceless  heritage? 

I  have  spoken  in  the  main  of  your  soldiery  by  classes  and  by 
organizations,  and  their  great  numbers  forbade  any  more  particular  or 
detailed  mention.  Yet  I  would  not  close  without  reference  to  some  of 
the  greatly  distinguished  names,  fit  to  be  associated  in  military  com- 
radeship with  the  great  captain  who  led  to  victory  at  Donelson,  at 
Shiloh,  at  Vicksburg,  at  Mission  Ridge.  A  soldiers'  monument  speaks 
for  both  commanders  and  men,  and  the  true  soldier  glories  quite  as 
much  in  the  fame  of  his  general  who  led  him  as  in  his  own  courage  or 
in  the  battle-rent  colors  of  his  regiment.  It  is  thus,  as  I  have  already 
said,  that  the  memory  of  Grant  comes  promptly  to  the  mind,  and  his 
name  to  our  lips  on  such  an  occasion.  It  is  thus  that  every  soldier  who 
fought  his  way  to  Atlanta,  or  marched  down  to  the  sea,  will  involun- 
tarily swing  his  hat  for  Sherman,  as  he  fights  his  battles  o'er  again. 
Those  who  wore  the  badges  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  will  tell 
the  listener  how  little  the  bravery  of  the  line  would,  at  tinges,  have 
counted,  had  not  the  'Rock  of  Ghickamauga,'  Thomas,  been  there  with 
cool  head  and  immovable  will  to  guide  the  fight. 

But  you  need  not  go  to  a  distance  for  examples  of  this  true  leader- 
ship which  your  monument  will  honor  and  commemorate  with  that  of 
Croghan  in  the  old  fight  of  Fort  Stephenson.  A  few  miles  away,  in  the 
southern  part  of  your  county,  repose  the  ashes  of  as  good  a  soldier,  as 
chivalrous  a  leader,  as  gallant  a  gentleman,  and  as  pure  a  man,  as  ever 
fell  upon  the  battle-field.  And  if  a  fitting  monument  specially  marks 
the  place  where  he  rests,  as  it  should  do,  still  no  soldier  of  Sandusky 


57 

County  will  fail  to  claim  that  this  general  memorial  of  your  martial 
virtue  is,  in  part,  also  dedicated  to  McPherson.  And  as  the  inscrip- 
tions upon  its  base  have,  with  wisdom  and  justice,  been  so  worded  as  to 
include  your  living  as  well  as  your  dead  soldiers,  may  I  not  mention,  as 
a  worthy  representative  of  the  survivors,  one  who  not  only  has  your 
esteem  and  love  as  a  neighbor  and  friend,  but  whom  the  people  of  Ohio, 
and  again  those  of  the  United  States,  have  called  successively  to  the 
highest  executive  duties  and  position?  I  trust  General  Hayes'  modesty 
will  not  too  greatly  suffer  if  I  close  my  personal  reminiscences  of  San- 
dusky  County  soldiers  with  an  incident  that  he  has  lasting  cause  to 
remember;  and  which,  like  the  rest  I  have  related,  occurred  under  rny 
own  eye.  To  all  who  served  in  the  old  "Kanawha  Division,"  its  name 
.and  fame  are  dear,  for  in  it  they  took  the  first  hard  lessons  of  a  soldiers' 
duty  in  the  rugged  hills  of  West  Virginia,  and  in  it  they  felt  the  glad 
thrill  of  pride  when,  on  first  proving  their  metal  beside  the  veterans  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  they  found  they  had  no  cause  to  blush  for 
the  results  of  their  training  in  mountain  warfare.  The  Twenty-third 
Ohio,  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hayes  in  command,  was  part  of  that 
division,  and  in  the  battle  of  South  Mountain,  which  opened  the  cam- 
paign of  Antietam,  in  September,  1862,  was  in  the  front  line.  The 
enemy  held  the  crest  of  the  ridge  at  Turner's  gap,  behind  a  stone  wall, 
up  to  which,  over  meadows  and  corn  fields,  the  charge  was  made.  We 
noticed,  as  we  advanced,  how  the  perfect  range  of  the  hostile  guns  made 
the  curve  of  the  canister  shot  fit  the  slopes  of  the  hill,  and  cut  the  turf 
with  the  sound  of  a  knife  cutting  the  rind  of  a  water-melon.  We 
noticed,  too,  that  the  crash  of  the  shrapnel  in  the  bit  of  woods  behind 
us  sounded  as  if  the  trees  were  made  of  some  'brash'  and  brittle  stuff 
with  no  fiber  in  it;  but  the  unflinching  line  went  forward  with  a  cheer, 
in  a  real  bayonet  charge.  By  one  of  the  coincidences  of  war,  the 
Twenty-third  Ohio  was  opposed  by  the  Twenty-third  North  Carolina, 
which  held  the  wall.  On  dashed  the  Ohio  boys  through  the  fiery  storm 
and  carried  the  crest,  driving  its  defenders  in  confusion  from  it.  And 
though  your  neighbor  languished  long,  by  reason  of  the  wound  under 
which  he  fell  as  the  wall  was  gained,  and  though  his  good  wife  had  a 
sad  and  weary  task  in  finding  her  way  to  the  camp  hospital  hid  away 
under  the  shadow  of  the  Catoctin  mountain,  where  he  was  carried,  I 
venture  to  say  they  both  look  back  to  that  time  with  a  glow  of  pride 
and  satisfaction  to-day,  realizing  that  it  is  a  blessed  thing  to  have  served 
the  country,  even  at  such  a  cost. 

Everywhere,  at  every  church,  in  every  gathering,  in  town  and  in 


country,  you  may  meet  the  men  with  empty  sleeve  or  halting  upon  a  crutch. 
Often  they  seem  anxious  to  hide  their  crippled  condition,  as  if  it  were 
no  honor  to  have  sacrificed  a  limb  for  the  nation's  cause.  It  is  for  you 
to  make  them  feel  that  you  honor  them  as  heroes,  and  know  that  they 
would  show  the  same  noble  devotion  again  if  the  occasion  should  arise. 
The  same  memory  of  the  spontaneous  self-sacrifice  of  the  great  war-time 
should  soften  and  temper  all  fierce  political  partizanship,  as  we  think 
how  universal  was  this  willingness  of  the  whole  people  to  give  their  best 
treasures,  without  stint,  when  a  real  peril  was  threatening  the  land. 
The  spirit  may  slumber,  but  it  is  there  still,  and  should  give  us  an 
abiding  faith  that  our  countrymen,  however  they  may  differ  from  us 
upon  some  exciting  question  of  the  time,  are  true  and  faithful  in  their 
loyal  patriotism  and  worthy  of  fraternal  confidence. 

This  monument  may  thus  teach  us  a  broader  lesson  than  we  had 
thought.  It  is  a  witness  of  the  devotion  of  a  whole  people  to  national 
institutions  that  are  founded  upon  the  right  of  every  man  to  his  own 
liberty,  and  to  the  fruits  of  his  own  free  labor.  A  solid  respect  for  the 
liberty  and  property  that  each  has  acquired  under  the  safe  protection 
of  the  laws,  would  seem  to  remove  all  danger  of  future  social  convul- 
sions and  revolutions.  Men  may  talk  of  antagonisms  between  classes; 
between  capital  and  labor;  between  rich  and  poor;  but  since  the 
inalienable  right  to  ''life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness"  has 
been  extended  to  every  citizen,  of  whatever  race,  by  the  sacrifices  and 
the  blood  of  the  noble  host  which  this  shaft  shall  keep  in  remembrance, 
we  cannot  doubt  the  permanence  of  a  government  which  is  based  upon 
this  broad  foundation  of  human  liberty. 

May  the  monument  then,  in  pointing  to  the  struggles  of  the  past, 
fit  us  for  better  citizenship  in  the  future.  May  its  lesson  be  not  only 
one  of  sympathy  for  great  suffering,  of  admiration  for  noble  conduct, 
or  even  of  emulation  for  self-sacrifice,  but  may  it  also  teach  that  true 
republicanism  can  only  be  built  upon  purity  of  character,  honesty  of 
purpose,  and  real  brotherhood  of  feeling.  If  we  learn  this,  the  bitter- 
ness of  the  past  will  be  forgotten,  and  only  its  expanding  and  ripening 
influences  be  remembered.  One  interest  and  one  sentiment  will  bind 
together  South  and  North,  and  all  will  unite  in  the  fervent  prayer  for 
one  great  Republic,  esto  perpetua. 

When  the  cheers  which  followed  subsided,  General  Hayes  remarked  : 
There  is  an  old  adage,  that  "  time  and  tide  wait  for  no  man."  A  rail- 
road train  waits  neither  for  man  nor  woman,  therefore  we  must  bring 
these  exercises  to  a  speedy  conclusion.  General  Hayes  then  introduced 


MEDAL  AWARDED  TO 

MAJOR  GEORGE  CROGHAN, 

BY  CONGRESS, 
For  his  gallant  defence  of  Fort  Stephensoii. 


59 
SENATOR  JOHN  SHERMAN, 

Who  was  greeted  with  great  applause.  He  said  :  I  have  listened  with 
great  satisfaction  to  the  able  address  read  by  Captain  Lemmon  and  the 
eloquent  speech  of  General  Cox,  and  many  thoughts  were  suggested  by 
them  and  by  the  interesting  ceremonies  we  had  the  honor  of  witnessing 
to-day,  but  in  view  of  the  lateness  of  the  hour,"  I  hope  you  will  excuse 
me  from  saying  anything.  I  thank  you  heartily  for  your  greeting,  and 
hope  that  at  some  time  or  other  I  may  be  able  to  serve  you. 
General  Hayes  then  introduced 

SENATOR  HENRY  B.  PAYNE, 

Who  was  greeted  with  applause  and  said :  I  have  been  delighted  with 
your  exercises  to-day.  The  speech  of  General  Cox  was  admirable  iit 
thought  and  well  delivered.  I  wish  to  throw  out  another  idea.  Great 
as  the  sacrifice  of  precious  life  was  during  our  late  civil  war  it  is  a  fact 
that  the  irrepressible  antagonism  between  slavery  and  freedom  never 
would  have  been  settled  in  this  world  short  of  a  civil  war.  The  North 
would  not  give  and  the  South  would  not  accept  compensation  for  the 
loss  of  slaves,  even  during  the  second  and  third  years  of  the  war.  The 
great  struggle  for  the  unity  of  the  States  and  the  perpetuity  of  the 
nation  ended  finally  in  the  liberation  of  the  slaves,  and  thus  the  greatest 
obstacle  to  the  growth  and  greatness  of  this  nation  has  been  removed 
by  civil  war. 

You,  ladies,  have  contributed  to  it.  You,  citizens  of  Sandusky 
County,  have  contributed  men  and  money  for  this  great  war,  but  you 
have  been  repaid  a  thousand  times.  Never  could  this  nation  have 
been  what  it  is  if  slavery  had  not  been  extinguished.  There  is  no 
longer  any  great  danger  for  the  future  of  our  country. 

A  few  thoughts  more :  Not  only  has  slavery  been  abolished  and 
this  fearful  sacrifice  of  war  closed,  but,  thank  God,  every  sword  is 
sheathed  between  the  citizens  of  this  country.  That  assurance  gave 
General  Grant  great  consolation  and  joy  in  the  last  hours  of  his  life. 
He  rejoiced  to  know  that  North  and  South  were  again  fraternally 
citizens.  This  period  is  great  and  glorious.  We  are  a  reconstructed 
republic  with  a  prestige  and  power  and  glory.  As  proof  of  thi& 
fraternal  feeling  contemplate  the  people  of  this  country,  who,  without 
distinction  of  section,  color,  or  sex  ;  ex -soldiers,  Union  or  Confederate,. 


60 

are  at  this  very  hoar  sitting  by  the  grave  of  General  Grant,  weeping  as 
Jesus  wept  at  the  grave  of  Lazarus,  or  like  Martha  and  Peter  at  the 
grave  of  their  best  friend. 

It  is  due  to  the  memory  of  the  dead  that  you  should  commemorate 
their  noble  deeds.  Will  not  this  beautiful  shaft  tell  to  future  time,  to 
.successive  generations,  the  story  of  these  brave  men  of  Sandusky 
County?  It  will  continue  as  long  as  the  country  shall  last.  Decora- 
tion Day  will  keep  alive  the  story  of  the  past.  That  will  last  as  long 
as  this  union  shall  last,  and  let  us  hope  that  this  union  shall  last  for  you 
and  your  children,  even  until  the  second  coming  of  Christ. 

CAPTAIN  JOSEPH  B.  FORAKER 

was  then  introduced  by  General  Hayes  as  one  who,  at  the  beginning  of 
the  war,  was  too  young  to  be  an  officer,  and  therefore  carried  a  knap- 
sack. He  was  received  with  an  ovation  of  cheers,  and  spoke  substan- 
tially as  follows : 

MY  FELLOW  CITIZENS: — I  wish  I  could  make  fitting  response  to 
such  a  cordial  greeting.  Under  other  circumstances  it  would  be  a 
great  pleasure  to  talk  to  you  at  some  length,  but  in  view  of  the  lateness 
of  the  hour,  and  in  viow  of  the  fact  of  which  we  have  been  told,  and  so 
well  understand,  that  railroad  trains  do  not  wait  for  man  or  woman,  it 
would  not  be  proper  for  me  to  detain  you  at  any  length.  I  simply 
thank  you  for  the  opportunity  you  have  afforded  me  to  mingle  and 
participate  with  you  on  so  interesting  an  occasion  as  this.  It  is  always 
a  pleasure  to  me  to  help  dedicate  monuments  that  are  erected  to  the 
memory  of  our  soldiers,  not  simply  because  they  perpetuate  the  fact 
that  our  soldiers  were  brave  men,  who  heroically  suffered  and  gave  up 
their  lives  for  their  country;  not  simply  because,  as  the  result  of  that 
great  struggle,  the  system  of  slave  labor  was  wiped  out;  but  rather 
because  the  American  Union  of  States  was  preserved,  a  nationality 
based  upon  the  idea  of  human  liberty  and  equal  rights  for  all  mankind. 
This  is  the  idea  that  we  brought  out  of  that  war,  and  it  is  the  grandest 
idea  that  we  did  bring  out.  Let  us  cherish  it  and  cultivate  it.  If  there 
is  one  thing  of  which  we  are  more  proud  than  another,  it  is  that  of 
which  Senator  Payne  has  spoken.  We  appreciate  that  our  victory  was 
the  victory  of  the  whole  country.  Let  us  cherish  this  idea  and  go  for- 
ward with  hope,  and  in  the  future  reap  that  great  and  high  position 
that  is  in  store  for  the  American  people. 

General  Hayes  then  said:     "To  the  men  who  tell  about  good 


61 

things  done,  we  owe  almost  as  much  as  to  the  men  who  do  them.     I 
will  introduce  to  you 

MAJOR  W.  W.  ARMSTRONG, 

of  the  Cleveland  Plain- Dealer. 

LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN: — I  claim  to  be  one  of  the  old  pioneers 
of  the  Sandusky  Valley.  Thirty-two  years  ago,  I  think — I  do  not 
propose  to  give  myself  away  as  to  my  age — (laughter)  in  company  with 
General  J.  C.  Lee,  I  came  from  Tiffin  to  the  town  of  Fremont  to  assist 
in  running  a  hand-engine  at  a  celebration  of  Croghan's  victory  here. 
We  had  a  good  time  amongst  ourselves  in  the  day  time,  and  in  the 
evening  with  the  girls.  [Laughter.] 

Now  the  gentlemen  have  been  speaking  of  gallant  soldiers,  refer- 
ring to  General  Buckland,  ex-President  Hayes  and  others.  I  want  to 
call  attention  to  the  fact  that  several  of  the  most  brave  and  gallant 
men  of  Sandusky  County  have  not  yet  been  mentioned.  I  referfta 
General  Eaton  and  to  Major-General  Jas.  B.  McPhersori,  the  latter  of 
whom  was  General  Grant's  right  arm  man.  Another  brave  man  of 
the  same  neighborhood  who  went  into  the  101st  Ohio,  was  Leander 
Stem.  He  is  the  man  that  told  his  boys  to  stand  up  for  the  honor  of 
the  good  old  State  of  Ohio. 

Then  there  is  another  gallant  soldier  with  whom  I  differ  in  politics 
and  perhaps  in  religion,  yet  I  consider  him  the  gallantest  soldier  of  all 
this  region,  and  his  name  is  General  Bill  Gibson.  [Cheers.] 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  did  not  participate  personally  in  this 
great  war.  I  staid  at  home  in  Seneca  County  with  my  gallant 
friend  Charles  Foster,  and  sent  the  boys  to  the  front.  (Laughter).  I 
signed  the  commissions  for  the  men  who  went  and  can  say  with  Gover- 
nor Foster  that  Seneca  and  Sandusky  Counties  and  our  military  district 
sent  as  brave  soldiers  as  were  sent  from  any  other  section  of  the  State 
of  Ohio. 

And  now,  gentlemen,  I  am  exceedingly  obliged  to  General  Hayes 
for  giving  me  the  opportunity  to  speak  here,  and  I  may  as  well  embrace- 
the  opportunity  to  do  a  little  free  advertising  for  the  Cleveland  Flam- 
Dealer.  We  will  have  the  speech  of  my  friend  Captain  Foraker 
printed  in  that  paper  [laughter],  also  the  speeches  of  Mr.  Lemmon, 
Mr.  Cox,  and  others.  The  paper  sells  at  five  cents  per  copy. 

This  is  the  first  time  that  I  ever  have  had  the  fortune  to  lay  my 
eyes  upon  Captain  Foraker  [Laughter.]  I  have  heard  of  him  before. 


62 

I  have  heard  people  say  that  sometimes  the  Governor  got  a  little  ill- 
natured.     (Laughter).     He  does  not  look  at  all  ill-natured  now. 

Some  one  suggested  that  the  title  of  Governor  was  a  little  too  pre- 
vious, but  the  speaker  said  he  should  not  change  it.  I  hope  his  friends 
will  keep  up  his  .good  nature  during  our  fall  campaign,  but  if  he  ever 
gets  ill-natured  again,  just  call  on  Dr.  Leonard. 

^  :£  #  ^  %.  %.  %.  5fc  *  % 

I  thank  you  for  your  kindness,  and  will  say  that  there  is  no  place 
in  Ohio  outside  of  the  city  of  my  present  residence,  (Cleveland,  Ohio,) 
that  I  think  more  of  than  of  this  Sandusky  Valley  and  the  City  of 
Fremont;  and  for  your  kindness  and  hospitality,  I  tender  you  my 
heartfelt  thanks.  [Applause.] 

GOVERNOR  FOSTER 

was  next  introduced.     He  said  : 

MR.  PRESIDENT,  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN: — I  think  I  can  dis- 
count my  friend  W.  W.  Armstrong  upon  a  long  continued  residence  in 
-Seneca  County.  I  have  no  desire  to  prolong  this  meeting  by  any 
remarks  of  mine,  but  would  only  say  that  my  friend  has  advertised  me 
here  in  this  church  as  well  as  he  has  advertised  me  in  the  past. 
£Laughter.]  I  must  refer  as  Captain  Foraker  did  to  the  fact  that 
railroad  trains  do  not  wait  for  man  or  woman  and  I  beg  you  to  excuse 
me  from  further  remarks.  I  have  the  most  pleasant  recollections  con- 
nected with  this  town  of  Fremont.  It  was  here  I  married  a  wife. 
{Applause.] 

General  Hayes  introduced 

HON.  W.  D.  HILL, 

member  of  Congress.     He  said : 

MR.  PRESIDENT,  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN  : — I  did  not  come 
here  to-day  to  make  an  address,  but  I  came  particularly  to  listen  to 
Governor  Cox  and  to  look  at  the  magnificent  monument  which  has  been 
•erected  by  the  patriotism  and  enterprise  of  the  people  of  Sandusky 
County.  Besides  that,  I  have  not  got  into  the  habit  of  making 
speeches  in  a  church  [laughter]  and  I  hesitate  to  undertake  it.  I  am 
also  advised  that  trains  do  not  wait  for  us,  and  I  do  not  want  to  be 
responsible  for  a  delay  which  my  speech  may  cause.  I  thank  you  for 
your  having  given  me  an  opportunity  for  witnessing  these  interesting 
ceremonies  to-day.  [Applause.] 

General  Hayes  then  said :     The  people  of  Fremont  have  a  most 


63 

agreeable  recollection  of  a  studious  and  modest  but  very  promising  boy 
who  resided  here  a  generation  or  more  ago,  and  who  has  since  made  for 
himself  a  name  in  public  life,  and  especially  as  one  of  the  gallantest 
Brigadier  Generals  of  the  war — GENERAL  JOHN  BEATTY.  [Applause.] 

General  Beatty  having  left  the  hall,  General  Hayes  said  :  I  would 
like  now  to  introduce  a  famous  editor,  who  was  once  Postmaster  at  the 
Confederate  Cross  Roads— MR.  D.  R.  LOCKE,  of  Toledo. 

The  Toledo  delegation  left  the  church  to  reach  the  5  o'clock  p.  M. 
train.  Mr.  Locke,  Hon.  Clark  Waggoner,  General  Fuller,  General 
Charles  L.  Young  and  others,  were  not  heard  from. 

General  James  M.  Comly  and  General  M.  D.  Leggett  excused 
themselves  on  account  of  the  lateness  of  the  hour. 

GENERAL  J.  C.   LEE 

being  introduced,  said : 

MR.  CHAIRMAN  : — You  ought  not  to  ask  me  to  say  anything. 
Time  and  tide  wait  for  nothing,  neither  man  nor  woman,  and  railroad 
trains  are  worse  than  time  and  tide.  I  am  not  going  until  8  o'clock  to- 
night, so  that — let's  see — how  long  (looking  at  his  watch)  can  I  speak  ? 
[Laughter].  I  thank  the  committee  for  inviting  me  to  be  here  on  this 
occasion  It  has  been  to  me  a  day  of  the  highest  pleasure  and  enjoy- 
ment, and  to  enumerate  the  sources  of  that  enjoyment  would  be  quite 
out  of  place  now,  for  you  well  understand  what  they  are.  To  see  the 
monument  located  on  Fort  Stephenson,  which  was  defended  by  that 
gallant  young  soldier,  Major  Croghan,  seventy-two  years  ago,  and  when 
the  flag  or  veil  fell  off,  to  see  in  position  surmounting  it  the  statue  of  a 
private  soldier  of  the  war  which  put  down  the  rebellion,  sent  a  thrill 
through  my  whole  being,  that  I  believe  will  continue  to  vibrate  while 
my  memory  shall  endure. 

We  stand  with  uncovered  head,  and  bow  ourselves  in  the  presence 
of  the  fact  that  our  great  military  leader  (General  Grant)  for  the  first 
time  surrendered  to  a  mightier  chieftain  and  now  lies  cold  on  Mt. 
McGregor's  top.  We  admire  the  glorious  character  and  matchless 
military  genius  and  splendid  statesmanship  of  that  great  hero,  who  held 
in  his  hand  the  direction  of  millions  of  intelligent  soldiers  of  America, 
and  hurled  them  with  imposing  effect  upon  the  rebellion.  Much  as  my 
heart  fills  with  sadness  at  the  thought  of  his  taking  off,  still  I  say  to 
you  that  I  bow  in  reverence  also  at  the  feet  of  the  private  soldier,  who 
helped  to  put  down  the  rebellion  under  the  guidance  of  the  illustrious 
General  Grant. 


B4 

The  sword  is  raiglity,  but  the  musket  is  mightier.  He  who  com- 
mands at  the  head  of  the  army  challenges  our  admiration,  but  he  who, 
through  patriotism,  takes  his  musket  in  hand  and  marches  over  rough 
stones  and  through  deep  mud  from  night  till  morning  and  morning  till 
night,  is  the  great  character  of  the  American  Republic.  The  man 
who  will  voluntarily  leave  wife  and  little  ones  at  home,  with  nothing  to 
depend  upon  but  the  charity  and  kindness  of  neighbors,  and  who  will 
stand  up  to  be  shot  down  in  defence  of  his  country,  for  you  and  for  me, 
and  for  our  children,  is  my  ideal  of  a  great  soldier,  and  when  I  shall 
turn  worshiper  at  the  feet  of  humanity,  I  want  to  bow  myself  in  the 
presence  of  the  private  soldier  of  the  armies  of  America.  [Cheers.] 

You  of  the  committee  will  ever  remember  that  that  beautiful  shaft 
is  synonymous  with  the  highest  citizenship,  the  private  soldier,  braced 
for  the  severest  duty,  ready  to  defend  the  Constitution  and  the  Union, 
is  synonymous  with  the  highest  patriotism.  This  thought  has  run 
through  my  heart.  The  country  will  thank  you  and  the  people  of  this 
county  for  the  exhibition  of  patriotism  you  give  in  the  erection  of  this 
monument,  and  I  join  feebly  in  this  expression  of  their  and  my  grati- 
tude. [Applause.] 

Ex-Commander-m-Chief  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  JOHN  S.  KOUNTZ,  of 
Toledo,  was  next  called,  but  had  left  for  home. 

GENERAL  ROBERT  P.  KENNEDY 

was  introduced  by  General  Hayes  as  one  of  the  boys  of  his  regiment, 
the  23d  Ohio,  and  being  used  to  obeying  orders,  spoke  as  follows : 

The  23d  boys  are  generally  called  upon  on  such  occasions  as  this. 
I  remember  when  the  23d  boys  were  not  called  upon  in  vain.  That 
was  at  the  front,  down  at  Antietam,  over  the  hills  in  Virginia  And  I 
want  it  understood  now  and  here  that  the  boys  of  America  have  not  all 
died.  These  old  soldiers  are  some  in  the  prime  of  life.  It  was  the 
boys  that  shouldered  the  knapsacks,  and  carried  the  muskets,  and  won 
the  victories,  and  brought  back  the  old  flag  and  planted  it  throughout 
all  this  great  land  of  ours.  And  not  only  that,  but  if  the  time  shall 
ever  come  again  when  it  shall  appear  necessary  for  the  boys  of  America 
to  preserve  this  country,  to  save  its  flag,  to  protect  its  liberty,  they  will 
do  it  again. 

Now  I  have  heard  it  said  by  a  good  many  of  these  people  who 
went  into  the  army  and  became  captains  and  majors,  generals,  etc.,  that 
it  was  merely  accidental  that  they  rose  to  higher  stations.  I  say  that 
men  of  worth  rose  to  their  places  by  force  of  character.  They  had 


65 

first  to  be  tried  by  the  mighty  whirl-wind,  the  chaff  had  been  winnowed 
away.  Sherman  was  there  because  Sherman  had  been  pronounced 
capable  of  commanding  a  mighty  army.  McPherson  was  there  because 
he  was  capable  to  lead  the  army  of  the  Tennessee.  And  Grant  the  old 
commander  was  there  because  God  Almighty  put  a  soul  in  him  and 
system  into  his  head  so  that  he  could  lead  all  the  mighty  armies  to 
victory. 

Sherman,  when  leading  his  army,  was  only  forty  years  of  age. 
Grant  led  an  army  at  the  age  of  forty-two.  McPherson  led  an  army 
at  thirty-four.  It  is  fit  that  you  build  monuments  to  such  as  these. 
Put  up  your  statues  that  the  coming  ages  may  remember  that  the 
greatest  armies  that  ever  battled  for  freedom  come  from  the  hearts  and 
homes  of  the  American  people. 

Among  that  mighty  army  was  one  man  who  led  grander  armies 
than  Caesar's,  and  fought  greater  battles  than  Napoleon.  He  was  a 
greater  general  than  Csesar,  because  Csesar  fought  for  conquest,  while 
this  man  fought  for  justice ;  grander  than  Wellington,  because  Wel- 
lington fought  for  power,  while  this  man  fought  for  liberty ;  grander 
than  Napoleon,  because  Napoleon's  battles  were  for  glory,  while  this 
man  fought  for  justice  and  humanity.  This  chieftain  of  chieftains, 
this  hero  of  heroes,  was  Ulysses  S.  Grant. 

General  Hayes  then  said  :  We  have  had  comrades  from  the  north- 
west, and  will  now  have  one  from  the  southeastern  part  of  Ohio  : 

GENERAL  CHAS.  H.  GROSVENOR. 

It  is  a  glorious  time  to  erect  a  soldiers'  monument  in  1885.  We 
are  sure  now  that  we  have  a  restored  Union,  and  a  constitution  resting 
upon  the  foundation  that  the  fathers  gave  us ;  that  fraternal  relations 
exist  in  all  sections.  I  congratulate  you  on  the  erection  of  the  monu- 
ment, and  I  hope  that  this  will  be  to  you  a  year  of  jubilee. 

After  the  doxology  was  sung,  Rev.  H.  P.  Barnes,  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Clyde,  pronounced  the  benediction  and  the 
audience  dispersed. 

There  was  a  rush  for  supper,  and  then  a  marching  to  and  from  the 
depot  as  the  strangers  began  leaving  the  city.  The  rain  had  ceased  and 
a  large  crowd  remained  on  the  streets  until  a  late  hour.  A  splendid 
exhibition  of  fire  works  from  the  top  of  the  stand  pipe  closed  one  of 
the  most  pleasant  and  successful  occasions  our  city  has  ever  witnessed. 
The  crowd,  though  immense,  was  well  entertained,  and  everyone  went 
away  feeling  repaid  for  having  been  in  Fremont  on  that  day. 

5 


66 
THE  MUSIC, 

which  interspersed  the  exercises  of  the  day  was  exceptionally  good,  and 
added  greatly  to  the  pleasure  and  interest  of  the  occasion.  It  consisted 
of  the  rendition  of  our  popular  patriotic  songs  by  a  glee  club  com- 
posed of  the  following  gentlemen :  James  L.  Pease,  Toledo,  leader ; 
John  G.  Fitch,  Fremont;  J.  M.  Shafer,  William  Howell,  Chas. 
Casner,  of  Toledo.  P.  T.  Germain,  of  Toledo,  organist,  and  Fred  H. 
Dorr,  of  this  city,  cornetist,  accompanied  two  of  the  songs. 

WHAT  THE  PRESS  SAYS. 

Among  the  many  compliments  bestowed  upon  the  people  of  Fre- 
mont for  the  success  of  the  celebration  and  unveiling,  we  publish  the 
following  : 

The  public  tone  in  Fremont  is  broad  and  liberal  and  generous. 
The  churches  and  public  buildings  are  good  and  substantial ;  the  reser- 
vation of  Fort  Stephenson  establishes  a  beauty  centre,  and  the  Library 
makes  it  also  the  intellectual  fountain.  Now,  to  crown  and  perpetuate 
all,  is  the  beautiful  monument,  dedicated  Saturday. 

Certainly  no  monument  in  the  country  could  have  more  of  the 
grandest  memorial  character  than  this — erected  on  the  site  of  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  and  memorable  events  of  the  War  of  Twelve,  com- 
memorating the  desperate  valor  of  Croghan  and  his  men ;  commemor- 
ating the  heroism  of  McPherson  and  the  thousands  ot  other  Sandusky 
County  heroes  of  the  Civil  War;  dedicated  with  solemn  consciousness 
of  that  death-cold  and  now  eternally  silent  illustrious  chieftain  lying  at 
the  Drexel  Cottage. 

It  was  well  that  the  unveiling  of  the  Fremont  monument  should 
be  witnessed  by  such  an  array  of  Senators,  Representatives,  Judges, 
statesmen,  soldiers  and  civilians  as  have  seldom  been  seen  together  in 
an  interior  town. 

The  speeches  were  all  good.  That  of  General  Cox  was  a  surprise 
even  to  those  familiar  with  his  great  powers  as  an  orator  of  scholarly 
and  polished  diction.  It  was  wonderfully  sympathetic,  and  thrilled 
the  audience  at  times  until  the  applause  shook  the  old  Presbyterian 
meeting-house  into  something  like  an  indecorum. 

We  should  be  glad  to  write  something  worthy  of  the  occasion. 
But  the  very  vastness  of  the  memories  and  the  environments  make  it 
impossible.  This  effort  may  serve  as  an  apology,  only. — loledo  Com- 
mercial lelegram. 


67 

There  was  an  enormous  throng  of  people  in  the  beautiful  city  of 
Fremont  last  Saturday,  on  the  occasion  of  the  unveiling  of  the  soldiers' 
monument,  but  large  as  it  was  it  did  not  exhaust  the  hospitality  of  the 
citizens.  There  were  probably  20,000  people  present,  and  all  were 
splendidly  cared  for,  the  citizens  vicing  with  each  other  in  their  efforts 
to  make  everybody  comfortable.  Ex-President  Hayes  entertained  a 
very  large  number  from  all  parts  of  the  State,  and  well  nigh  everybody 
else  kept  open  house.  There  was  not  only  the  most  magnificent  hos- 
pitality on  the  part  of  the  citizens  but  the  committees  had  so  well  done 
their  work  that  the  celebration  passed  off  without  hitch  or  unpleas- 
ant occurrence,  that  anybody  was  responsible  for.  The  only  thing  that 
marred  the  pleasure  of  the  crowd  was  the  rain  in  the  afternoon  which 
dispersed  the  multitude  in  the  park,  and  drove  them  into  a  church. 
Despite  the  unfavorable  weather,  the  celebration  was  a  notable  success, 
and  a  credit  to  the  county  and  city. — loledo  Blade. 


LETTERS  OF  REGRET. 

Letters  regretting  inability  to  be  present  were  received  by  the 
committee  of  the  Monumental  Association  from  many  distinguished 
persons  to  whom  they  had  extended  invitations,  among  which  are  the 
following : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON. 

The  President  has  received  the  invitation  of  the  Committee  in  charge  to  be 
present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  at  Fremont,  on  August  1st, 
and  regrets  that  his  official  and  other  engagements  will  prevent  its  acceptance. 
Friday,  July  17. 

MT.  MCGREGOR,  N.  Y.,  July  14. 

Gentlemen: — Gen.  Grant  directs  me  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  your  invita- 
tion to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  in  Fremont,  on 
the  1st  of  August,  and  to  convey  to  you  his  heartfelt  thanks  for  the  kind  expres- 
sions contained  therein  personal  to  himself. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

N.  E.  DAWSON. 
Gen.  E.  S.  Hayes,  ex-President  U.  S.,  and  others,  Committee. 


912  GARRISON  AVENUE,  ST.  Louis,  Mo.,  July  15,  1885. 
General  R.  B.  Hayes,  Fremont,  Ohio: 

Dear  General: — Pardon  me  if,  in  addressing  you  as  General  instead  of  Pres- 
ident, I  make  a  mistake,  but  I  always  do  so  to  General  Grant,  and  feel  the  for- 
mer title  the  more  familiar.  I  have  received  your  most  friendly  note  of  July  13, 
and  the  other  one,  equally  kind  and  acceptable,  of  Mrs.  Hayes,  dated  "  Spiegel 


68 

Grove,"  and  regret  extremely  that  I  must  answer  both  that  every  day,  from  this 
to  Sept.  10,  is  so  parcelled  out,  and  dove-tailed,  that  I  cannot  possibly  change  a 
day  without  violating  promises  of  long  standing.  My  entire  family  is  now  at 
Lake  Minnetonka.  I  remain  behind  a  few  days  to  supervise  the  re-construction 
of  a  house  formerly  occupied  by  my  daughter,  Mrs.  Fitch,  and  am  under  prom- 
ise to  leave  here  Thursday,  or  Friday  at  the  latest,  for  Chicago,  and  thence  to 
St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  Lake  Minnetonka.  There  I  remain  for  about  three 
weeks,  with  engagements  at  Fort  Snelling,  etc.,  and  must  be  in  New  York  shortly 
after  the  middle  of  August;  then  Mansfield,  Ohio,  Sept.  1,  where  John  Sherman 
has  arranged  for  a  family  reunion ;  then  St.  Louis,  to  settle  up  for  the  new  house, 
and  finally  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  Sept.  9-10,  at  Chicago.  For  an  old 
soldier  turned  out  to  grass,  this  surely  is  a  fair  amount  of  labor,  for  no  one 
knows  better  than  you  that  these  "pleasant"  reunions  of  old  soldiers  are  the 
hardest  kind  of  work  for  such  as  me,  around  whose  name  every  soldier  who 
served  at  the  West  wears  a  chain  of  memories,  personal  to  himself  yet  associated 
with  my  name. 

The  defence  of  Fort  Stephenson,  by  Croghan  and  his  gallant  little  band,  was 
the  necessary  precursor  to  Perry's  victory  on  the  Lake,  and  of  General  Harrison's 
triumphant  victory  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames.  These  assured  to  our  immedi- 
ate ancestors  the  mastery  of  the  Great  West,  and  from  that  day  to  this  the  west 
has  been  the  bulwark  of  this  nation. 

The  occasion  is  worthy  a  monument  to  the  skies,  and  nothing  could  be  more 
congenial  to  me  personally  than  to  assist,  but,  as  I  hope  I  have  demonstrated,  it 
is  impossible. 

Tell  Mrs.  Hayes  that  Kachel  is  with  the  family  at  Minnetonka,  and  that  I 
will  carry  her  letter  to  her  by  Sunday  next.  Accept  the  assurance  of  my  pro- 
found respect  for  yourself  and  every  member  of  your  family. 

Sincerely  yours,  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 


HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,         \ 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  August  4,  1885.  / 

My  Dear  Sir: — Returning  on  Saturday  from  duty  in  the  Indian  Territory, 
I  found  here  your  very  polite  note  requesting  my  attendance  at  the  unveiling 
of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  at  Sandusky,  Ohio,  on  the  1st  of  August. 

I  regret  very  much  that  I  was  so  situated  as  to  be  unable  to  be  present  on 
that  interesting  occasion.  Yours  very  truly, 

P.  H.  SHERIDAN, 
Gen.  R.  B.  Hayes,  Fremont,  Ohio.  Lieu't  General. 


GOVERNORS  ISLAND,  N.  Y.,  July  15. 

My  Dear  General: — Your  note  of  the  13th,  enclosing  invitation  to  be  present 
at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  in  Fremont,  Ohio,  Saturday,  August 
1st,  has  been  received. 

It  would  afford  me  great  pleasure  to  be  present  and  participate  in  the 
unveiling  ceremonies  on  that  occasion,  which,  occurring  on  the  anniversary  of 
Major  George  Croghan's  gallant  defence  of  Fort  Stephenson,  August  2,  1813,  is 


69 

of  additional  interest,  but  my  official  duties  interfere  with  my  absence  from 
home,  save  for  brief  periods,  and  oblige  me  to  decline.  I  thank  you  for  your 
kindly  expressions  in  conveying  to  me  the  invitation,  and  I  beg  you  will  express 
to  your  committee  my  regrets. 

I  am,  very  truly  yours, 

W.  S.  HANCOCK. 

WILSON,  KAN.,  July  25. 

Hon.  R.  B.  Hayes  and  Others: 

Gentlemen: — It  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  accept  invitation  to  be  present 
at  Fort  Stephenson,  on  account  of  poor  health.     Will  explain  by  letter. 

Yours  truly, 

WM.  GAINS. 


NEW  YORK,  July  22. 

Committee  Invitations: — I  sincerely  regret  that  I  cannot  join  in  your  tribute, 
to-morrow,  of  grateful  recollection  to  the  early  heroes  of  your  State.  The 
interest  and  pleasure  which  I  should  have  had  in  being  present,  would  have 
been  increased  by  realizing  on  that  historic  ground  the  honor  conferred  on  me 
in  giving  to  it  my  name.  Your  monument,  rising  from  the  dust  of  a  century, 
and  the  funeral  gloom  which  to-day  covers  the  country,  shows  that  this  republic 
is  not  ungrateful,  but  generously  mindful  of  good  service  rendered. 

J.  C.  FREMONT, 
130  East  Q4th. 

UNITED  STATES  SENATE, 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  July  16. 
Hon.  JR.  B.  Hayes,  Chairman,  etc.: 

My  Dear  Sir: — I  am  in  receipt  of  your  invitation  to  be  present  at  the 
unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  at  Fremont,  Ohio,  August  1.  It  would  afford 
me  much  pleasure  to  be  present  on  that  occasion,  but  I  have  engagements  East 
that  will  prevent.  Very  truly. 

JOHN  A.  LOGAN. 


CHICAGO,  July  16,  1885. 
Gen.  R.  B.  Hayes,  etc.,  Committee: 

I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  courteous  invitation 
to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  at  Fremont,  Ohio, 
Saturday,  August  1,  for  which  please  accept  my  thanks. 

I  regret  that  official  duties  will  require  my  presence  at  my  Headquarters  in 
Chicago,  and  I  am  compelled,  therefore,  to  decline  your  very  cordial  invitation. 

Very  truly  yours, 

J.  M.  SCHOFIELD. 


MT.  VERNON,  July  31,  1885. 

My  Dear  General: — I  greatly  regret  that  I  am  not  able  to  be  present  at  your 
celebration  on  to-morrow.  Do  me  the  kindness  to  present  my  cordial  saluta- 
tions to  Gen.  Cox.  With  great  respect,  very  truly, 

GEORGE  W.  MORGAN. 
His  Excellency,  JR.  J5.  Hayes,  Chairman^  etc. 


70 

ORANGE,  NEW  JERSEY,  July  24,  1885. 
Hon.  R.  B.  Hayes,  Chairman: 

Dear  Sir: — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  courteous 
invitation  to  attend  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  in  Fremont,  on 
the  1st  of  August. 

I  regret  that  other  engagements  will  render  it  impossible  for  me  to  avail 
myself  of  the  invitation.  With  my  cordial  thanks  for  the  compliment  and  my 
best  wishes  for  the  complete  success  of  the  meeting, 

I  am,  respectfully,  your  devoted  serv't, 

GEO.  B.  McCLELLAN. 


HEADQUARTERS  DIVISION  OF  THE  PACIFIC,  \ 

PRESIDO  OF  SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL.,  July  21,  1885.  j 

Gen.  R.  B.  Hayes,  R.  P.  Buckland,  Wm.  E.  Haynes,  Committee  : 

Gentlemen: — Be  pleased  to  accept  my  thanks  for  your  kind  and  considerate 
invitation  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  at  Fremont, 
on  the  1st  of  August  next.  Nothing  would  give  me  more  pleasure  than  to  be 
present  at,  and  participate  in,  an  occasion  so  full  of  interest,  but  you  will  per- 
ceive from  the  heading  of  this  letter  that  nearly  the  whole  continent  interposes 
between  us,  and  absolutely  precludes  the  possibility  of  my  being  with  you.  I 
am  sure  you  cannot  regret  it  so  much  as  I  do. 

Sincerely  yours,  JOHN  POPE. 


LEBANON,  July  18,  1885. 
Hon.  R.  B.  Hayes,  and  others,  Committee: 

Messrs: — I  regret  that  other  engagements  will  prevent  my  being  with 
you  August  1st,  though  it  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  be  at  the  unveil- 
ing of  your  monument.  Express  my  regrets  to  your  people. 

Very  truly,  DURBIN  WARD. 


TOLEDO,  July  30,  1885. 
Wm.  E.  Haynes,  Esq.,  Chairman,  Fremont,  Ohio: 

Dear  Sir:— Pressing  business  engagements  will  prevent  my  attendance  at 
the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  in  your  city  on  August  1st,  a  circum- 
stance which  I  regret  exceedingly.  It  is  forty  years  since  I  first  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Sandusky  County,  and  among  my  earliest  and  pleasantest  recollections 
are  the  annual  celebrations  of  Croghan's  victory.  This  important  event  is  the 
bright  particular  page  in  our  county's  history  of  the  war  of  1812-15,  one  of 
which  our  people  are  justly  proud. 

This  year  you  connect  with  this  time-honored  custom  another  broad  and 
noble  object,  the  dedication  of  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  the  brave  men 
who  fell  in  the  defence  of  our  country  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  No  fitter  site 
than  Fort  Stephenson  could  be  selected.  It  was  my  pleasant  duty,  as  the  Repre- 


71 

sentative  of  our  Senatorial  District,  to  introduce  in  the  Ohio  Legislature  a  bill 
authorizing  the  Commissioners  of  Sandusky  County  to  transfer  to  your  Soldiers' 
Monumental  Association  funds  raised  for  the  erection  of  a  monument,  thus 
securing  prompt  and  efficient  action  ;  and  the  reflection  that  I  have  been  able  to 
aid — even  in  this  slight  degree — the  accomplishment  of  this  noble  object  will  be 
a  source  of  pleasure  to  me  for  all  time. 

Very  respectfully  yours,  GODFEEY  JAEGER. 


RED  HOOK,  DOUGLAS  Co.,  N.  Y.,  \ 

TIVOLI  P.  O.,  July  20,  1885.  ( 
Hon.  R.  B.  Hayes,  for  Committee  : 

Gentlemen: — I  regret  extremely  that  ill-health  prevents  my  acceptance  of 
your  very  kind  remembrance  and  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of 
the  Soldiers'  Monument,  at  Fremont,  Ohio,  Saturday,  August  1st. 

From  what  I  had  heard  I  supposed  it  was  a  memorial  of  the  defence  of 
Fort  Stephenson,  1st  and  2d  of  August,  1818.  From  those  of  our  people  and 
friends  who  overlapped  me  many  years  when  memory  received  distinct  remem- 
brances, sufficiently  so  to  be  ever  proudly  retained,  the  defence  of  Maj.  Croghan 
always  impressed  itself  as  one  of  the  most  praiseworthy  deeds  of  the  war  of 
1812-13,  in  which  so  many  of  my  relations  and  affiliations  nobly  participated. 

In  all  crises  in  human  affairs,  of  whatsoever  magnitude,  it  is  not  men  who 
are  wanting  to  decide  events,  but  the  man.  At  Lower  Sandusky,  in  1813,  the 
occasion  formed  the  man,  Major,  afterward  Colonel,  Geo.  Croghan. 

Although  so  little  is  presented  in  general  history  of  the  details  most  inter- 
esting to  a  military  student,  sufficient  is  known  to  constitute  it  as  a  "big  thing," 
especially  to  one  intimate  with  Col.  Armstrong,  son  of  Major-General,  Secretary 
of  War,  Armstrong,  who  lived  in  a  neighboring  village  in  this  township.  I 
was  full  of  the  stories  of  the  conflict  known  as  the  country's  "second  war  for 
independence." 

Although  Croghan  was  a  Kentuckian,  he  came  to  this  same  town  to  seek  a 
wife,  Miss  Livingstone,  from  a  family  with  several  branches  of  which  I  am 
closely  connected  in  various  ways. 

In  having  this  creditable  exploit  of  the  Major  or  Colonel  thus  brought  to 
view,  it  simultaneously  recalled  the  verses  of  Duncan  Macgregor : 

"  Men  and  deeds  !  " 
Wanted,  men  ! 
Not  systems  fit  and  wise. 

For  even  the  potent  pen, 

Wanted,  men 

Wanted  ;  deeds ! 

Not  words  of  cunning  note. 

Not  love  of  cant  and  creeds, 
Wanted:  deeds! 
Men  that  can  dare  and  do  ! 
These  the  occasion  needs, 

Men  and  deeds. 
Respectfully,  J.  WATTS  DEPEYSTER. 


72 

jR.  B.  Hayes,  R.  P.  Buckland,  Win.  E.  Haynes : 

Comrades: — I  feel  like  addressing  you  as  "venerable  brethren."  In  reply  to 
your  kind  invitation  to  be  present,  at  Fremont,  1st  August  proximo,  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  there,  I  know  of  no  soldiers' 
reunion  which  it  would  give  me  more  pleasure  to  attend,  but  I  fear  I  am  des- 
tined not  to  be  present.  If  the  spirit  would  avail  I  should  be  there. 
I  am,  very  truly,  your  comrade, 

W.  S.  ROSECRANS. 


STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,  EXECUTIVE  OFFICE,         1 
SPRINGFIELD,  July  22.  j 

Hon.  R.  B.  Hayes,  R.  P.  Buckland,  Wm.  E.  Haynes,  Committee  on  Invitations : 

Gentlemen : — Your  invitation  of  the  1st  inst,,  inviting  Gov.  Oglesby  to  be 
present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  in  Fremont,  O.,  on  the  first 
of  August  prox.,  duly  received. 

Gov.  Oglesby  directs  me  to  say  that  it  would  afford  him  much  pleasure  to 
be  present  on  that  interesting  occasion,  but  that  the  demand  of  public  business 
upon  his  time  necessitates  sending  his  regrets. 

Were  it  not  that  public  measures  are  demanding  his  constant  attention  it 
would  afford  him  the  greatest  pleasure  to  accept  of  your  invitation. 
I  am  very  respectfully  yours, 

H.  J.  CALDWELL, 

Private  Secretary. 


POST  OFFICE   DEPARTMENT,         "I 
OFFICE  OF  POST  MASTER  GENERAL,  July  25,  1885.  J 

Gentlemen  : — I  beg  you  will  accept  my  hearty  thanks  for  the  compliment  of 
your  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  at 
Fremont,  on  the  first  of  August  next.  It  will  be  an  occasion  well  calculated  to 
stir  the  most  patriotic  emotions,  and  one  which  every  soldier  would  be  glad  to 
participate  in.  I  regret  exceedingly  that  my  official  duties  deny  me  the 
privilege.  Very  respectfully, 

WM.  VILAS. 
Hon.  R.  B.  Hayes,  etc. 


NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  July  26,  1885. 

Gentlemen : — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  invitation 
of  your  committee  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  at 
Fremont,  O.,  on  August  1st  next.  I  regret  that  other  engagements  will  prevent 
my  accepting  the  invitation  of  your  committee  and  of  being  present  on  the 
important  occasion  referred  to.  Yours  very  truly, 

W.  C.  WHITNEY. 


73 

STATE  OF  OHIO,  EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT, 

COLUMBUS,  July  10, 1885. 
<7o/.    Wm.  E.  Haynes,  Fremont,  0.  : 

Dear  Colonel:— The  invitation  to  attend  the  dedication  of  the  Sandusky 
County  Soldiers'  Monument  came  to  us  in  due  course  of  mail.  I  regret  that  it 
•will  be  out  of  my  power  to  be  present  on  that  occasion.  I  am  compelled  to  be 
here  to  address  the  colored  people  on  the  afternoon  of  August  1st,  being  the 
•emancipation  of  the  WTest  Indies. 

I  sincerely  hope  you  will  have  a  successful  occasion,  a  pleasant  day ;  I  am 
•sure  you  will  have  fit  and  noble  words  spoken  to  you,  both  in  prose  and  poetry; 
ithat  the  ceremonies  of  the  occasion  may  be  such  as  to  rivet  more  firmly  in  the 
minds  of  the  people  that  respect  for  the  surviving  soldiers  of  the  war  of  the 
rebellion  which  was  so  lively  when  they  first  returned  in  glory  in  1865. 
With  my  kind  regards,  your  friend, 

GEO.  HOADLY. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  JUSTICE,  1 

WASHINGTON,  July  18,  1885.  j 

Messrs.  E.  B.  Hayes,  E.  P.  Buckland,   Wm.  E.  Haynes,  Committee: 

Gentlemen: — I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  kind  invitation  to 
attend  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  in  Fremont,  Ohio,  on  August 
1st  proximo,  and  to  thank  you  for  it.  If  it  were  possible  I  would  be  glad  to 
attend  ;  but  the  nature  of  my  duties  and  the  condition  of  the  public  business 
•compel  me  to  decline  it,  however  unwillingly. 

Very  respectfully,  A.  H.  OAKLAND. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT,         "I 
WASHINGTON,  July  25,  1885.  J 

Dear  Sir : — The  Secretary  of  War  directs  me  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  invitation  to  him  to  attend  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  at 
Fremont  on  the  1st  prox.,  and  to  express  his  regrets  that  he  cannot  accept  the 
same.  Very  truly  yours, 

JAY  STONE, 

Act.  Priv.  Sec'y. 

MT.  VERNON,  O.,  July  20,  1885. 

Gentlemen : — The  courteous  invitation  of  your  committee  to  be  present  at 
the  celebration  of  the  heroic  and  successful  defence  of  Fort  Stephenson  by 
George  Croghan,  found  me  ill  in  bed,  and  I  am  now  in  my  office  by  way  of 
experiment.  If  I  sufficiently  regain  my  strength,  I  will  have  the  pleasure  of 
being  present  on  that  occasion.  Thirty-nine  years  ago  Colonel  Croghan  in- 
spected my  regiment  in  Mexico,  and  I  will  be  glad  to  do  honor  to  his  character 
and  memory.  With  great  respect, 

GEORGE  W.  MORGAN. 


74 

LAKE  HOME,  MT.  VERNON,  O.,     \ 
July  25,  1885.  j 

Gentlemen:— I  regret  to  say  that  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  be  present  at  the- 
unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  in  Fremont,  Ohio,  Saturday,  August 
1st,  1885. 

I  thank  you  for  your  invitation,  and  I  trust  the  occasion  may  be  pleasant, 
as  I  am  sure  it  will  be  useful  in  the  future,  to  our  country  and  institutions. 

Such  tributes  to  patriotism  always  promote  the  welfare  of  a  nation. 

With  great  respect,  C.  DELANO. 

Han.  R.  B.  Hayes,  Hon.  R.  P.  Buckland,   Wm.  E.  Haynes,  Committee,  etc. 


465  CLINTON  AVENUE,         \ 
BROOKLYN,  N.  Y.,  July  30,  1885.  / 

Dear  Sir: — I  regret  that  my  engagements  are  such  as  to  prevent  my  accept- 
ance of  your  kind  invitation  for  August  1st,  1885. 

Yours  truly, 

HENRY  W.  SLOCUM. 
Hon.  R.  B.  Hayes,  of  Committee. 


CLEVELAND,  O.,  July  25,  1885. 

My  Dear  General  : — My  wife  and  myself  thank  you  sincerely  for  your  kind 
invitation  to  visit  you  at  the  ceremonies  to  be  held  at  your  place,  and  very 
much  regret  that  owing  to  sickness  of  my  daughter  and  her  child,  it  will  not  be 
possible  for  us  to  accept.  Miss  Hill  is  now  west,  in  Illinois.  We  have,  how- 
ever, sent  her  your  kind  invitation.  I  have  been  up  to  Ballast  Island  since 
Monday  last,  hence  the  delay  in  this  reply.  Our  regards  to  all  of  your  family. 

Yours,  JAMES  BAENETT. 

General  Buckland. 


CINCINNATI,  July  28, 1885. 
General  R.  P.  Buckland,  Fremont,  0. : 

Dear  General: — The  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers' 
Monument  August  1st,  by  the  Sandusky  County  Soldiers'  Monument  Association, 
duly  received,  and  I  note  your  courtesy  and  compliment  of  inviting  me  to  your 
house. 

I  regret  extremely  that  I  cannot  avail  myself  of  the  pleasure  of  being 
present,  and  your  hospitality,  but  I  must  go  east  on  Sunday  or  Monday  to  be 
gone  several  weeks,  and  the  responsibilities  of  my  business  will  keep  me  oc- 
cupied every  moment  before.  Thanking  you  very  kindly, 

I  am,  sincerely,  etc., 

L.  M.  DAYTON. 


75 

GEORGETOWN,  O.,  August  9,  1885. 

My  Dear  General :— I  thank  you  very  much  for  invitation  to  attend  unveil- 
ing of  Soldiers'  Monument,  and  for  copy  of  papers  containing  proceedings  and 
speeches. 

I  was  not  able  to  come  or  I  should  have  been  with  you.  With  my  best 
wishes  for  you  and  yours, 

I  remain,  sincerely, 

Your  comrade  and  friend, 

D.  W.  C.  LOUDON. 
General  R.  P.  Buckland,  Fremont,  Ohio. 


CLARKSBURG,  W.  Va.,  July  24,  1885. 

My  Dear  General: — Many  thanks  for  your  kind  remembrance,  as  shown  in 
your  invitation  of  18th  inst.  to  attend  the  unveiling  of  the  Sandusky  County 
Soldiers'  Monument,  on  1st  prox. 

I  have  an  engagement  in  Washington  for  Friday  and  Saturday,  the  31st 
inst.  and  1st  prox.,  which  will  prevent  my  being  with  you  at  the  time  mentioned. 
I  regret  it  very  much,  as  I  would  above  all  things  like  to  visit  your  section, 
meet  our  comrades  who  will  then  honor  themselves  by  honoring  the  memory  of 
their  dead,  and  again  meet  with  your  family,  all  of  whom  I  so  fondly  remem- 
ber, and  from  whom  I  received  such  kindness. 

Please  remember  me  to  Mrs.  Hayes  and  Miss  Fanny, 

And  believe  me,  most  truly,  N.  GOFF,  JR. 

General  R.  B.  Hayes,  Fremont,  0. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ADJ.  GEN'S  OFFICE,     1 
WASHINGTON,  July  29,  1885.  / 

My  Dear  Mr.  President :— I  am  in  receipt  of  your  very  kind  invitation  to 
attend  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  at  Fremont,  on  Saturday  next, 
and  beg  to  thank  you  for  the  kind  words  urging  me  to  be  present  on  that 
occasion. 

It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  attend,  but  my  duties  here  are  so  press- 
ing that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  take  any  vacation  whatever  this  summer. 
With  great  respect, 

Sincerely  yours,  R  C.  DRUM. 


DAYTON,  O.,  July  24,  1885. 
Messrs.  R.  B.  Hayes,  R.  P.  Buckland,   W.  E.  Haynes,  Committee. 

Gentlemen: — Respectfully  acknowledging  your  invitation  to  be  present  at 
the  Sandusky  County  Soldiers'  Monumental  Association,  unveiling  of  the  Sol- 
diers' Monument,  in  Fremont,  on  August  1st  prox.,  and  thanking  you  for  the 
courtesy,  I  am  constrained  to  send  my  regrets  and  compliments  on  account  of 
business  obligations.  Fraternally, 

W.  D.  BICKHAM. 


76 

KENTON,  O.,  August  1,  1885. 

My  Dear  General: — I  write  to  present  my  apology  to  yourself  and  asso- 
ciates on  the  committee  for  my  failure  to  keep  my  engagement  to-day. 

My  only  apology  is  the  weather.  Twice  in  my  life  I  have  been  overcome 
by  the  heat.  During  the  week  I  have  had  the  threshing  machine  on  my  farm, 
and  as  the  result,  have  been  a  good  deal  out  of  doors.  For  two  days  I  have 
been  suffering  inconvenience  from  the  exposure.  Hence  I  am  admonished  that 
I  must  remain  in  doors  and  keep  quiet.  This  is  my  reason  for  not  being  with 
you. 

Please  present  my  excuse  to  your  associates  on  the  committee.  I  can  only 
add  that  I  am  extremely  sorry  that  I  cannot  be  with  you  on  this  memorable 
occasion.  Very  respectfully, 

J.  S.  KOBINSON. 
Gen.  E.  B.  Hayes. 


CLEVELAND,  O.,  July  22,  1885. 
Hon.  R.  B.  Hayes,  R.  P.  Buckland,  Wm.  E.  Haynes,  Committee. 

Gentlemen: — I  sincerely  regret  not  being  able  to  accept  your  kind  invitation 
for  August  1st,  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  at  Fremont,  as  I 
expect  to  be  out  of  the  State  at  that  time. 

Please  accept  my  best  wishes  for  yourselves,  the  day,  and  the  occasion. 
Yours  truly,  WM.  BINGHAM. 


ST.  PAUL,  July  29,  '85. 

My  Dear  General: — I  have  delayed  until  to-day  writing  an  acknowledg- 
ment of  your  kindly  invitation  of  the  18th  inst,  to  the  unveiling  of  the  Sol- 
diers' Monument  at  Fremont,  on  the  1st  of  August,  because  I  had  hoped  I 
could  command  the  time  to  be  present  with  you  and  for  this  purpose  have  the 
further  pleasure  of  paying  my  respects  to  yourself  and  Mrs.  Hayes,  but  I  am 
called  to  Salt  Lake  and  must  leave  here  for  that  place  on  to-morrow. 
Ever  sincerely  yours, 

ALEX.  EAMSAY. 
Gen.  R.  B.  Hayes,  Fremont,  0. 


1305  EUCLID  AVENUE,     ) 
CLEVELAND,  O.,  July  17,  1885.  / 
Gen'l  R.  B.  Hayes,  Chairman  S.  M.  A.,  Fremont,  0. 

Dear  Sir : — Being  a  confirmed  invalid,  unable  to  leave  my  home,  it  is  not 
possible  for  me  to  be  present  on  the  anniversary  of  the  defence  of  Fort  Stephen- 
son,  August  1,  1885. 

Your  polite  invitation  brings  in  review  a  number  of  historical  events  con- 
nected with  your  city,  that  have  occurred  during  the  past  century.  The  rapids 
of  Lower  Sandusky,  where  Fremont  now  is,  put  a  stop  to  the  expedition  of 
Colonel  Bradstreet  in  October,  1764,  on  his  way  to  join  Colonel  Bouquet  at  the 
forks  of  the  Muskingum. 


77 

During  the  war  of  the  revolution  many  of  the  expeditions  of  the  British 
and  their  Indian  allies,  passed  up  the  Sandusky  River,  to  attack  the  frontier 
settlements.  In  the  fall  of  1781,  the  Moravian  Missions  on  the  Tuscarawas 
under  Zeisberger,  were  forced  away  from  their  posts,  to  the  towns  on  the  San- 
dusky  and  thence  to  Detroit.  Indian  and  English  war  parties  passed  up  the 
river  to  join  in  the  battle  against  Colonel  Crawford,  near  Upper  Sandusky,  in 
June,  1782.  The  first  Protestant  Mission  among  the  Wyandots,  and  the  first 
United  States  Agency,  were  located  at  the  Lower  rapids  in  1803  and  1808,  their 
buildings  forming  part  of  the  fort  constructed  in  1812.  The  first  company 
drafted  on  the  Reserve  in  April,  1812,  under  Captain  John  Campbell  was 
ordered  there,  and  assisted  in  completing  the  fort. 

But  all  these  interesting  events  culminated  in  the  unparalleled  discom- 
fiture of  the  British  and  Indians,  in  August,  1813,  by  a  young  major  of  Ken- 
tucky, acting  against  orders.  Nothing  can  be  more  appropriate  than  the  cele- 
bration of  a  defence  so  brilliant  and  complete,  and  the  erection  of  a  durable 
monument  to  fix  the  spot  forever. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

CHAS.  WHITTLESEY. 


WOOSTER,  July  27,  1885. 

Dear  General: — I  find  that  I  cannot  attend  your  Soldiers'  Monument  cere- 
monies on  Saturday,  and  I  am  very  sorry  that  wife  and  I  will  not  therefore 
be  able  to  enjoy  your  hospitalities  on  that  occasion.  I  had  hoped  we  could 
have  that  pleasure.  My  official  duties  at  Cleveland  and  engagements  here  will 
not  allow  me  time  to  visit  your  city  also. 

Best  regards  to  you  and  yours,  in  which  wife  joins. 

Yours  truly,  M.  WELKER. 

Gen.  Buckland. 


PITTSBURG,  Pa.,  July  29,  1885. 
General  R.  B.  Hayes,  Fremont,  0. 

Dear  Sir:— I  am  much  obliged  for  your  kind  invitation  to  the  ceremonies 
on  August  1st,  and  have  delayed  the  acknowledgment  because  I  thought  of 
being  present,  but  my  necessary  duties  will  not  permit. 
I  am,  with  much  respect,  yours, 

C.  C.  BALDWIN. 


AKRON,  O.,  25th  July,  1885. 
Messrs.  E.  B.  Hayes,  R.  P.  Buckland,   Wm.  E.  Haynes,  Committee. 

Gents  .-—Please  accept  my  thanks  for  your  invitation  to  be  present  at  the 
unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'    Monument   in    Fremont.     It  would  give  me  great 
pleasure  to  be  present,  but  I  shall  be  prevented  by  necessary  absence  from  home. 
Very  respectfully  yours,  etc., 

WM    H.  UPSON. 


78 

STATE  OF  OHIO,  ADJ.  GEN.  DEPARTMENT,     1 
COLUMBUS,  Ohio,  July  16,  1885.  / 

Hon.  R.  B.  Hayes,  Hon.  R.  P.  Buckland  and  Hon.  W.  E.  Haynes,  Fremont,  0. 

Gentlemen: — I  am  in  receipt  of  your  favor,  tendering  me  an  invitation  to  be 
present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  at  Fremont,  Saturday, 
August  1st,  1885,  for  which  accept  thanks. 

I  fear  that  owing  to  prior  engagements,  it  will  be  out  of  the  question  for 
me  to  be  present.  It  would  afford  me  very  great  pleasure  indeed  to  be  there  on 
that  occasion,  and  if  I  can  possibly  arrange  to  attend,  I  will  do  so.  I  have  the 
honor  to  be,  Yours  truly,  g.  B.  FINLEY, 

Adj.  Gen'l 


TIFFIN,  Ohio,  July  11,  1885. 
Messrs.  Gen.  R.  B.  Hayes,  Gen.  R.  P.  Buckland,  Col.  W.  E.  Haynes,  Committee. 

Gentlemen : — I  am  in  receipt  of  yours  of  the  10th,  inviting  me  to  be  present 
at  the  unveiling  of  your  Soldiers'  Monument  August  1st,  the  anniversary  of 
Croghan's  victory.  I  had  almost  forgotten  my  infant  effort  of  thirty-seven  or 
thirty-eight  years  ago !  I  wonder  what  I  said  then  ?  As  now  advised,  I  see 
nothing  to  prevent  my  "  driving  down"  to  the  unveiling,  and  I  shall  hope  to 
meet  and  greet  some  few,  at  least,  who  heard  me  there  two  score  years  since. 
If  I  am  to  be  used,  in  any  way,  let  it  be  to  "scatter"  the  crowd. 

I  am  faithfully, 

W.  H.  GIBSON. 


SANDUSKY,  July  22,  1885. 

My  Dear  Sir: — The  receipt  of  your  committee's  kind  invitation  to  be  pres- 
ent at  the  unveiling  of  the  Sandusky  County  Soldiers'  Monument  on  the  72d 
anniversary  of  the  memorable  defence  of  Fort  Stephenson,  very  much  strength- 
ened a  previously  conceived  desire  to  be  present,  because  of  my  vivid  recollec- 
tion of  the  defence. 

Health  permitting,  I  shall  try  to  be  present  on  the  1st  of  August. 
With  high  consideration,  I  am,  etc., 

O.  FOLLETT. 
Gen'l  R.  B.  Hayes,  Chm'n  Com. 


ASHLAND,  LAKE  SUPERIOR,  Wis.,  July  19,  1885. 
Prest.  R.  B.  Hayes,  R.  P.  Buckland,   Wm.  E.  Haynes,  Committee: 

Gentlemen: — Your  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the 
Soldiers'  Monument,  in  Fremont,  Ohio,  on  the  1st  day  of  August,  was  forwarded 
to  me  here.  My  engagements  are  such  as  will  prevent  my  attendance,  but  I 
desire  to  express  to  you  my  grateful  appreciation  of  the  compliment,  and  my 
very  great  regret  at  not  being  able  to  accept. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

GEO.  L.  CONVERSE. 


79 

DETROIT,  Mich.,  July  21st,  1885. 

Gen.  E.  B.  Hayes,  Gen.  R.  P.  Buckland,  Col.~Wm.  E.  Haynes,  Committee  of  Invitations: 
Gentlemen : — I  am  this  moment  in  receipt  of  your  invitation  to  attend  the 
ceremony  of  unveiling  the  Sandusky  County  Soldiers'  Monument,  at  Fremont, 
Ohio,  on  the  1st  proximo,  and  greatly  regret  that  it  so  happens  that  I  must  be 
at  Sault  St.  Marie,  Michigan,  on  duty,  on  that  day,  otherwise  I  should  most  as- 
suredly have  given  myself  the  pleasure  of  going  to  Fremont.  Thanking  you 
for  the  courtesy  of  the  invitation, 

I  am,  your  obedient  servant,  O.  M.  POE. 


OFFICE  OF  THE  CHIEF  SIGNAL  OFFICER,     1 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  July  27, 1885.  / 

My  Dear  General: — I  have  just  returned  from  a  little  trip  north,  and  find 
your  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Sandusky  County  Soldiers' 
Monument,  on  the  1st  of  next  month,  awaiting  me. 

I  would  be  glad  to  be  present  on  that  occasion,  but  intend  to  sail  this  week 
for  a  European  tour  of  two  months,  and  so  will  be  unable. 

Regretting  that  I  cannot  be  with  you  and  thanking  you  sincerely  for  your 
remembrance,  I  am 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

W.  B.  HAZEN. 

Hon.  Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  President  of  the  Day,  and  Chairman  Committee  on  Invitation, 
Fremont,  Ohio. 


DAYTON,  Ohio,  July  21,  1885. 

Comrades : — Many,  very  many  thanks  for  your  kind  invitation  to  be  pres- 
ent at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  in  Fremont,  Ohio,  August  1st 
proximo,  but  I  regret  to  say  my  health  is  such  I  cannot  promise  myself  the 
gratification  of  attendance. 

With  great  respect,  I  am  your  friend  and  comrade, 

THOS.  J.  WOOD. 
Comrades  R.  B.  Hayes,  R.  P.  Buckland,  W.  E.  Haynes,  Committee  on  Invitation. 


CINCINNATI,  Ohio,  July  19,  1885. 
Qen.  R.  B.  Hayes,  Chairman  Committee  on  Invitations,  Fremont,  Ohio. 

My  Dear  General: — I  regret  exceedingly  that  other  pressing  engagements 
will  prevent  the  acceptance  of  your  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  unveil- 
ing of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  in  your  city  on  the  1st  of  August. 
Very  respectfully, 

A.  HICKENLOOPER. 


so 

SPRINGFIELD,  Ohio,  July  17,  1885. 
Gen.  R.  B.  Hayes  and  others,  Committee  oh  Invitations  : 

Messrs  : — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  kind  invita- 
tion to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  in  Fremont,  on 
August  1st  next. 

I  have  arranged  to  go  west  in  a  day  or  two  with  a  portion  of  my  family  and 
I  may  not  return  until  too  late  to  attend  the  unveiling  at  the  time  named. 

Your  committee,  and  the  association  it  represents,  have  my  thanks  for  the 
kind  invitation,  and  I  am   delighted  to    know  that  the  brave  soldiers  of  San- 
dusky  County  are  soon  to  have  a  monument  in  their  honor. 
Yours,  with  high  esteem, 

J.  WARREN  KEIFER. 


TOLEDO,  Ohio,  July  20,  1885. 
Gen.  R.  B.  Hayes,  Fremont,  0. 

My  Dear  Sir: — I  am  very  much  gratified  at  the  receipt  of  your  kind  invita- 
tion to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  at  Fremont,  on 
the  first  of  August. 

I  am  sure  nothing  would  prevent  my  being  with  you  if  it  were  possible,  on 
that  occasion,  but  I  am  about  starting  to  visit  my  eldest  daughter,  residing  at 
Minneapolis,  and  shall  be  absent  from  home  for  three  or  four  weeks.  But  for 
this  unavoidable  necessity,  I  should  have  been  delighted  to  have  witnessed  these 
ceremonies.  I  hope  I  shall  nevertheless  often  see  the  monument  which  will  be 
an  enduring  memorial  of  the  great  action,  which  in  such  close  proximity  to  that 
of  Perry,  rescued  the  infant  settlements  around  the  lake  from  the  British  army 
and  its  merciles  allies.  Very  truly  yours, 

J.  R.  OSBORN. 


MADISON,  Wis.,  July  15,  1885. 
Gen.  R.  B.  Hayes,  Chairman  Committee,  etc.,  Fremont,  Ohio: 

General : — Thanking  you  and  the  committee  for  an  invitation  to  be  present 
at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  in  Fremont,  Saturday,  August  1st, 
I  very  much  regret  that  another  engagement  will  prevent  me  from  accepting. 

I  should  enjoy  joining  my  Ohio  comrades  on  that  occasion,  and  I  am  glad 
to  have  been  remembered  by  them. 

I  am,  General,  with  much  respect, 

Faithfully  yours,  LUCIUS  FAIRCHILD. 


81 

MILITARY  ORDER  OF  THE  LOYAL  LEGION  or  THE         ") 

U.  S.,  HEADQ'S  COMM'Y  OF  THE  STATE  OF  PENN-     > 

SYLVANIA,  PHILADELPHIA,  July  24,  1885.  J 

Colonel  John  P.  Nicholson  presents  his  compliments  to  the  committee  of 
the  Sandusky  County  Soldiers'  Monumental  Association  and  thanks  them  for 
the  invitation  to  be  present  August  1st,  1885. 


CLEVELAND,  Ohio,  July  21,  1885. 
To  R.  B.  Hayes,  E.  P.  Buckland,  Wm.  K  Haynes,  Committee : 

Gentlemen: — Your  appreciated  invitation  is  received  to  be  present  on  the 
1st  proximo,  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  at  Fremont.  It  is  an 
event  of  great  interest,  one  that  would  give  me  much  pleasure  to  attend,  but, 
unfortunately,  an  engagement  in  the  east  the  last  of  the  month  will  prevent  my 
acceptance  of  your  courtesy. 

May  the  day  be  a  fair  and  notable  one  to  you  and  the  citizens  of  Sandusky 
County,  the  lives  and  deeds  of  whose  sons  have  exalted  the  State.  With 
great  respect,  I  remain,  Sincerely  yours, 

J.  DEVEREUX. 


MANSFIELD,  O.,  July  22,  1885. 
Hon.  E.  B.  Hayes  and  others,  Committee  on  Invitations  •' 

Gentlemen: — Your  letter  inviting  me  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the 
Soldiers'  Monument  in  Fremont,  Ohio,  August  1st,  1885,  received,  for  which 
accept  my  sincere  thanks.  I  find  other  engagements  will  compel  me  to  forego 
the  pleasure  you  tender  me,  but  trust  the  occasion  will  meet  your  highest 
expectation.  I  am,  very  truly,  etc., 

GEO.  W.  GEDDES. 


WASHINGTON,  July  24,  1885. 

Gentlemen: — Your  very  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the 
monument  erected  on  the  site  of  old  Fort  Stephenson  received,  I  regret  to  say.  that 
official  duties  will  prevent  my  attendance.  It  would  afford  me  great  pleasure  to 
unite  with  my  late  comrades  in  honoring  the  memory  of  the  gallant  Croghan 
and  his  command,  for  their  brave  and  successful  defence  of  Fort  Stephenson. 
against  the  combined  attack  of  a  superior  force  of  British  and  Indians. 

Truly  yours,  B.  F.  KELLY. 

Gen.  E.  B.  Hayes,  and  others,  Committee,  Fremont,  Ohio : 


82 

CINCINNATI,  O.,  July  24,  1885. 
Gen1 1  R.  B.  Hayes,  Chairman  Committee  of  Invitations,  Fremont,   0.: 

My  Dear  Sir: — I  have  your  polite  invitation  to  attend  the  ceremonies  at 
the  unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  of  Sandusky  County.  I  had  made 
my  plans  to  be  present,  to  join  in  honoring  the  memory  of  those  who  so 
gallantly  defended  Fort  Stephenson,  and  all  those  from  your  county  who  fought 
for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  from  '61  to  '65.  It  would  give  me  very  great 
pleasure  to  join  in  the  exercises  which  I  am  sure  will  be  very  interesting,  but 
the  death  of  our  honored  Commander,  General  Grant,  has  devolved  some  special 
duties  upon  me  here,  and  I  fear  I  shall  be  unable  to  be  with  you. 

I  thank  you  and  the  other  members  of  the  committee  for  the  invitation, 
and  I  sincerely  hope  that  your  brightest  hopes  may  be  realized  in  the  success 
of  your  efforts.  Very  cordially  yours, 

H.  P.  LLOYD. 


MAYOR'S  OFFICE,         \ 
TOLEDO,  O.,  July  27,  1885.  / 

Hon.  R.  B.  Hayes,  R.  P.  Buckland,  Wm.  E.  Haynes,  Committee  : 

Gentlemen:— Your  courteous  and  cordial  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  un- 
veiling of  the  Sandusky  County  Soldiers'  Monument,  on  Saturday  next,  at 
Fremont,  was  duly  received. 

I  have  delayed  answering  before,  hoping  to  be  able  to  say  that  I  would  be 
present.  Circumstances  over  which  I  have  no  control,  however,  compel  me  to 
decline  the  invitation.  I  can  assure  you  of  my  deep  regret  in  being  deprived 
of  the  pleasure  of  being  present  to  testify  in  an  humble  way  my  great  respect 
for  the  gallant  men  who  have  gone  before.  Accept  my  thanks  and  hopes  for  a 
successful  issue  of  the  exercises.  Very  respectfully  yours, 

S.  F.  FORBES. 


MUTUAL  LIFE  BUILDING, 
PHILADELPHIA,  July  28,  1885. 

Gentlemen: — I  regret  greatly  that  1  shall  be  unable  to  be  present  at  the  un- 
veiling of    the   Soldiers'    Monument,   in    Fremont,   on    Saturday,  August  1st. 
Thanking  you  for  the  compliment  of  your  invitation, 
Very  truly  yours, 

WM.  N.  LAMBERT. 

Messrs.  R.  B.  Hayes,  R.  R  Buckland,  Wm.  E.  Haynes,  Committee  on  Invitations : 


83 


U.  S.  MARSHAL'S  OFFICE, 
NORTHERN  DISTRICT  OF  OHIO, 


CLEVELAND,  July  29,  1885. j 

Gentlemen: — Your  kind  invitation  was  received.     I  should  be  pleased  to 
attend,  but  owing  to  business  engagements,  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  do  so. 

Yours  most  sincerely,  W.  F.  GOODSPEED. 

Gen.  R.  B.  Hayes,  R.  P.  Bucfcland,  Wm.  E.  Haynes,  Committee : 


FORT  SCOTT,  Kan.,  July  22,  1885. 
Messrs.  R.  B.  Hayes,  R.  P.  Buckland  and  Wm.  E.  Haynes,  Committee  oh  Invitations  : 

Gentlemen: — Replying  to  your  very  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  un- 
veiling of  the  Soldiers'  Monument,  in  Fremont,  Ohio,  on  the  1st  proximo,  I 
very  deeply  regret  my  inability  to  arrange  my  business  engagements  so  as  to  be 
present.  No  monument,  however  costly  or  enduring,  will  be  too  grateful  a 
recognition  of  the  patriotism  and  valor  of  the  citizens  of  Ohio,  who  laid  down 
their  lives  on  the  altar  of  their  country.  It  is  such  patriotism  that  should  be 
instilled  into  the  minds  of  the  youth  of  our  country,  who,  if  thoroughly  imbued 
with  it,  are  a  greater  element  of  safety  to  our  institutions  than  any  standing 
army. 

The  citizens  of  your  beautiful  city  are  noted  for  their  patriotism  and  in 
thus  erecting  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  our  gallant  dead,  they  are  not  only 
performing  a  patriotic  duty  to  them,  but  are  also  educating  the  rising  genera- 
tion in  a  practical  way  to  esteem  love  of  country  and  our  institutions  as  above 
life  itself,  when  threatened  by  any  foe,  either  foreign  or  domestic. 

Thanking  you  for  the  compliment  tendered  and  regretting  my  inability  to 
be  present,  •  I  remain,  your  obedient  servant, 

U.  B.  PEARSALL, 
Late  Col  48th  Wis.  InfCy  and  Brevet.  Brig.  Gen.  VoVs. 


CINCINNATI,  July  29,  1885. 
Gen.  R.  B.  Hayes,  et  al.,  Committee,  Fremont,  Ohio; 

Gentlemen : — Having  been  favored  with  an  invitation  to  be  present  at  the 
unveiling  of  the  Soldiers'  Monument  in  your  city  on  August  1st,  I  had  hoped 
that  I  might  so  arrange  my  engagements  as  to  be  able  to  be  present,  hence 
delay  in  replying.  I  find,  however,  with  regret  at  this  late  day  that  I  shall  be 
unable  to  attend. 

Wishing  you  a  very  pleasant  and  profitable  meeting, 
I  am,  very  truly  yours, 

ORLAND  SMITH. 


84 

SANDUSKY,  O.,  August  8,  1885. 
General  R.  P.  Buckland  : 

My  Dear  Sir:— I  sincerely  thank  you  for  a  copy  of  the  Fremont  Journal, 
containing  the  proceedings  and  account  of  the  ceremonies  at  the  unveiling  of 
the  Soldiers'  Monument,  at  Fremont,  on  Saturday  last,  which  I  received  this- 
morning.  I  have  read  with  interest  the  speeches  made  on  the  occasion,  and 
especially  yours  and  General  Cox's.  Mr.  Lemmon's  also  possesses  much  interest. 
They  are  all  valuable  historical  sketches  that  should,  and  I  hope,  will  be  pre- 
served. 

I  have  no  knowledge  or  recollection  of  the  incident  Brother  Lemmon  relates 
concerning  the  cannon  "  Betsy  Croghan,"  and  the  controversy  about  its  possession 
between  Fremont  and  Sandusky.  I  suppose,  however,  that  his  account  of  it 
must  be  substantially  correct. 

I  should  have  been  glad  to  have  been  present  on  the  ceremonial  occasion 
above  referred  to,  but  when  I  first  read  the  invitation  of  the  committee,  it  was 
just  before  the  day  of  the  meeting.  I  had  returned  from  a  journey  east,  with 
friends  to  visit  my  family,  and  it  was  not  convenient  for  me  to  leave  again  so- 
soon. 

Thanking  you  again  for  your  kindness,  I  remain  as  ever, 

Your  true  friend,  E.  B.  SADLER. 


. •'•'•. ;  :  •'  i  /"• ''  •  •'    • 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


The  following  biographical  sketches  of  union  soldiers  of  Sandusky 
County,  who  fell  in  battle  or  who  have  died  since  the  war,  and  after 
whom  Posts  of  the  G.  A.  R.  have  been  named,  are  from  sources 
deemed  trustworthy. 

GENERAL  JAMES  B.  McPHERSON. 


The  most  distinguished  Union  officer  and  the  highest  in  rank  and  in 
command,  who  was  killed  in  battle  during  the  war,  belonged  to  £an- 
dusky  County,  and  his  remains  are  buried  near  the  spot  where  he  was 
born  and  reared.  James  Birdseye  McPherson  was  born  in  Clyde,  San- 
dusky  County,  Ohio,  November  14th,  1828.  He  was  killed  in  battle 
near  Atlanta,  Georgia,  July  22d,  1864.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
was  a  Brigadier-General  of  the  Regular  Army,  a  Major-General  of 
Volunteers,  and  Commander  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  which  con- 
sisted of  the  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  and 
formed  the  left  wing  of  the  army  of  General  Sherman,  which  was  in 
almost  daily  battle  for  the  possession  of  strongholds  and  communications 
upon  which  depended  the  life  of  the  Confederacy. 

At  the  unveiling  of  the  monument  in  honor  of  General  McPherson, 
in  Clyde,  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  the  orator,  General  M.  F.  Force, 
said : 

"  In  this  place,  in  this  presence,  in  the  sight  of  the  home  of  his 
childhood,  where  he  was  born  on  the  14th  of  November,  1828,  speak- 
ing to  the  playmates  of  his  youth  and  the  comrades  of  his  career,  there 
is  little  need  of  saying  who  James  B.  McPherson  was.  They  are  pres- 
ent who  remember  the  sunny-faced  boy,  cheerful,  generous,  affectionate, 
studious,  diligent  in  every  duty.  His  youthful  toil  helped  to  support  a 
widowed  mother.  Entering  West  Point  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he 
feared  his  limited  education  would  weigh  him  down,  but  in  a  class 


86 

•which  included  Schofield,  Terrell,  Sill,  Tyler,  Hood,  and  afterwards 
Sheridan,  he  quickly  rose  to  the  head,  and  kept  his  place  there.  The 
professors  regarded  him  as  one  of  the  ablest  men  sent  forth  from  the 
institution." 

General  Sherman,  on  the  same  occasion,  made  an  address,  from 
which  the  following  extracts  are  made  : 

"  Those  whom  the  gods  love,  die  young.  My  memory  in  a  some- 
what eventful  career  of  forty  years,  retains  three  conspicuous  examples. 


My  third  young  hero  lies  buried  here  at  Clyde,  Ohio,  in  the 
orchard  where  he  played  as  a  boy.  He,  too,  died  young,  only  35 
years  old,  and  was  of  the  kind  whom  the  gods  love  "exceedingly  well." 
You,  his  neighbors,  knew  him  as  a  boy,  and  had  a  glimpse  of  him  in 
manhood,  and  somehow  I  think  a  man  may  not  be  a  prophet  or  a  hero 
in  his  own  home.  You  knew  his  genial,  hearty  nature,  his  attachment 
to  his  family  and  neighbors,  but  you  could  not  see  the  man  as  I  have 
seen  him  in  danger,  in  battle,  when  every  muscle  and  every  tissue  was 
in  full  action,  when  the  heroic  qualities  shone  out  as  a  star  in  the 
darkest  night. 

I  believe  I  knew  McPherson  better  than  any  of  you,  and  of  this 
I  must  testify  :  In  September,  1857,  I  was  in  New  York  City,  a 
citizen-agent  for  certain  bankers  of  St.  Louis.  I  found  my  friend, 
Major  John  G.  Barnard,  United  States  Engineer,  quartered  in  a  house 
in  Price  street,  not  far  from  Broadway,  and  to  be  near  him,  I  took  rooms 
there.  In  that  same  house  I  found  Lieutenant  McPherson,  of  the 
engineer's  corps  of  the  army.  We  were  usually  out  during  the  day 
time,  but  every  night  we  met  in  Barnard's  room  or  in  mine,  and 
gossiped  of  the  topics  of  interest  of  that  day.  I  was  naturally  attracted 
to  him  because  of  his  intelligence  and  manly  bearing  ;  also  because  he 
was  from  Ohio  and  a  graduate  at  the  head  of  the  class  at  West  Point. 
There  it  was  my  first  acquaintance  began,  and  it  continued  without  in- 
terruption until  I  saw  him  last  alive  at  the  Howard  House,  near 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  whence  I  sent  his  body  to  his  home  at  Clyde  for 
burial.  From  New  York,  late  in  1857,  he  was  ordered  to  California, 
and  when  the  civil  war  broke  out  in  1861,  he  came  back;  and  again 
we  met  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  an  Aide-de-Camp  to  General  Halleck, 
before  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  He  was  with  General  Grant  at  Henry 
and  Donelson,  and  afterwards  was  sent  with  me  up  the  Tennessee 
River  as  a  staff  officer  to  represent  first  general  C.  F.  Smith,  and  later, 
General  Grant,  in  the  attempt  to  reach  the  Charleston  Railroad  at 


87 

Burnsville,  then  to  assist  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  preliminary  to  the  great 
campaign  there  to  begin.  There  must  be  many  people  here,  I  know 
there  is  one,  General  R.  P.  Buckland,  who  remembers  how  intimate 
and  friendly  we  were  before  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  as  well  as  after  it. 
McPherson  always  stayed  at  ray  camp  and  never  failed  to  visit  the 
Seventy-second  Ohio  belonging  to  my  division,  in  which  regiment  he 
had  many  old  neighbors  and  friends  from  this  same  town  of  Clyde. 

McPherson  was  still  at  that  time  technically  an  Aide-de-Camp  of 
General  Halleck,  who  remained  at  St.  Louis,  but  he  had  wisely  per- 
mitted this  young,  enterprising  and  gallant  engineer  officer  to  go  ahead 
(as  he  always  wanted  to  go)  with  the  advance  of  the  leading  column. 
Separate  and  together  we  reconnoitered  all  the  ground  to  the  front  for 
twelve  miles  to  the  right  and  left,  and  when  the  battle  of  Shiloh  was  in 
progress.  Grant  relied  chiefly  on  McPherson  for  the  topographical 
knowledge  of  the  battle  field  and  its  surroundings.  McPherson,  how- 
ever, was  not  content  to  remain  in  the  capacity  of  a  staft  officer,  but 
sought  for  command,  to  do  acts  and  not  merely  to  advise.  His  natural 
place  was  as  a  leader  of  men,  the  highest  sphere  in  military  life.  This 
he  attained  at  Corinth,  and  thence  forward  as  a  Brigadier-General  and 
Major-General  at  Corinth,  Oxford,  Vicksburg,  Chattanooga  and 
Atlanta,  he  performed  deeds  which  are  fully  recorded,  and  place  his 
name  honorably  and  worthily  in  the  catalogue  of  the  great  generals  of 
the  world.  On  this  occasion  it  would  not  be  proper  for  me  to  dilate  on 
these  themes,  although  it  would  be  a  labor  of  love.  Events  followed 
each  other  in  such  quick  succession  that  at  this  distance  of  time  all  seem 
projected  into  one  grand  result;  but  the  years  1863  and  1864  were  big 
with  events,  which  will  influence  the  destiny  of  America  for  centuries 
to  come.  Days  were  as  months,  and  months  as  years  of  ordinary  limit. 

McPherson,  a  youth,  grew  from  a  Lieutenant  of  Engineers  to  be  a 
Corps  Commander,  an  Army  Commander,  promotion  as  rapid  as  ever 
marked  the  progress  of  the  mighty  men  in  the  days  of  Napoleon,  but, 
like  a  brilliant  meteor,  "  Loved  of  the  Gods,"  his  young  life  went  out 
before  we  had  achieved  the  full  measure  of  the  work  demanded  of  us 
by  the  times.  All  that  was  mortal  of  him  lies  buried  here,  within  a 
few  feet  of  where  we  stand,  but  the  spirit,  the  genius  of  the  man  sur- 
vives, and  millions  will  award  him  a  full  share  of  the  fruits  of  the 
victory  for  which  he  gave  his  young  life  so  nobly  and  so  heroically.  I, 
his  companion,  friend  and  senior,  have  been  spared  a  few  years,  and 
could  I  recall  him  to  life  now,  I  would  not.  He  sleeps  well.  A  nation 
has  adopted  him  as  one  of  her  heroes,  and  long  after  we  are  gone,  and 
it  may  be,  forgotten,  young  men  will  gather  about  his  equestrian  statue 


88 

in  Washington,  and  this  one  at  Clyde,  Ohio,  and  say  to  themselves, 
"  Behold  the  type  of  man  who  rescued  us  from  anarchy;  who  died, 
that  freedom  might  become  universal;  that  America  might  attain  her 
true  place  in  the  gallery  of  nations,  and  whose  virtues,  heroism  and 
self-sacrifice  we  must  imitate."  The  artist  may  model  his  form,  the 
painter  may  reproduce  his  likeness,  and  the  historian  narrate  his  deeds, 
but  none  save  his  comrades  in  battle  can  feel  the  full  force  of  his  living 
genius  and  character.  We  must  soon  pass  away  and  leave  him  alone 
in  his  glory,  but  before  we  go,  we  should  attempt  to  emphasize  his 
fame,  and  I  have  sought  elsewhere  for  words  fitted  to  the  subject,  but 
cannot  find  anything  more  appropriate  than  what  I  myself  wrote  the 
day  after  his  death,  when  the  sounds  of  battle  still  thundered  in  my 
hearing,  when  my  heart  was  torn  by  the  loss  of  a  comrade  and  friend, 
one  whom  I  loved,  in  whose  keeping  was  the  fate  of  one  of  our  best 
armies,  and  whose  heart's  blood  still  stained  the  hand  with  which  I 
wrote.  I  therefore  do  beg  to  reproduce  my  own  report  of  his  death, 
made  after  I  had  consigned  him  to  the  care  of  loving  aides  to  be  brought 
here  to  Clyde,  Ohio,  for  interment. 

HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,         "\ 

IN   THE   FIELD   NEAR    ATLANTA,   GA.,    July    23,  1864.  J 

General  L.  Thomas,  Adjutant- General  United  States  Army,  Washington,  D.  C.: 

General : — It  is  my  painful  duty  to  report  that  Brigadier-General  James  B. 
McPherson,  United  States  Army,  Major-General  of  Volunteers  and  Commander 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  was  killed  about  noon  of  yesterday.  At  the 
time  of  this  fatal  shot  he  was  on  horseback,  placing  his  troops  in  position,  near 
the  city  of  Atlanta,  and  was  passing  a  cross-road  from  a  moving  column 
towards  the  flank  of  troops  that  had  already  been  established  on  the  line.  He 
had  quitted  me  but  a  few  moments  before,  and  was  on  his  way  to  see  in  person 
to  the  execution  of  my  orders.  About  the  time  of  this  sad  event  the  enemy  had 
rallied  from  his  entrenchments  of  Atlanta,  and  by  a  circuit,  got  to  the  left  and 
rear  of  this  very  line  and  had  begun  an  attack  which  resulted  in  a  serious 
battle,  so  that  General  McPherson  fell  in  battle,  booted  and  spurred,  as  the 
gallant  and  heroic  gentleman  should  wish.  Not  his  the  loss,  but  the  country's, 
and  the  army  will  mourn  his  death  and  cherish  his  memory  as  that  of  one  who, 
though  comparatively  young,  had  risen  by  his  merit  and  ability  to  the  com- 
mand of  one  of  the  best  armies  which  the  nation  had  called  into  existence  to 
vindicate  her  honor  and  integrity.  History  tells  of  but  few  who  so  blended  the 
grace  and  gentleness  of  the  friend  with  the  dignity,  courage,  faith  and  manli- 
ness of  the  soldier. 

His  public  enemies,  even  the  men  who  directed  the  fatal  shot,  never  spoke 
or  wrote  of  him  without  expressions  of  marked  respect.  Those  whom  he  com- 
manded loved  him  even  to  idolatry,  and  I,  his  associate  and  commander,  fail  in 
words,  adequate  to  express  my  opinion  of  his  great  worth.  I  feel  assured  that 


89 

•every  patriot  in  America  on  hearing  this  sad  news,  will  feel  a  sense  of  personal 
loss,  and  the  country  generally  will  realize  that  we  have  lost  not  only  an  able 
military  leader,  but  a  man  who,  had  he  survived,  was  qualified  to  heal  the 
national  strife  which  had  been  raised  by  designing  and  ambitious  men.  His 
body  has  been  sent  North  in  charge  of  Major  Willard,  Captains  Steel  and  Gile, 
his  personal  staff.  I  am,  with  respect, 

W.  T.  SHERMAN, 
Major- General  Commanding. 

Ex-President  Hayes,  at  the  unveiling  of  the  McPherson  Monu- 
ment, at  Clyde,  said  : 

In  grateful  recognition  of  the  services  and  character  ot  Gen- 
eral McPherson,  his  surviving  comrades  of  the  Army  of  the  Tenn- 
essee, and  his  friends  and  neighbors  residing  at  and  near  his  birth- 
place, Clyde,  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  have  erected  a  portrait  statue 
of  heroic  size  in  bronze.  It  is  the  work  of  Louis  L.  Rebisso, 
an  Italian  artist,  who  now  resides  in  Cincinnati.  It  will  fitly 
mark  the  last  resting  place  of  the  earthly  remains  of  General 
McPherson.  It  stands  before  us,  within  a  few  rods  of  the  spot 
where  he  was  born,  and  is  in  the  midst  of  the  scenes  in  which  his 
infancy  and  boyhood  were  passed.  The  facts  of  his  career  and  char- 
acter will  be  fully  spread  before  you  by  the  distinguished  speakers  to 
whom  that  duty  has  been  assigned.  His  rank,  his  important  command, 
his  brilliant  services,  the  cause  for  which  he  died,  his  talents,  his  culture, 
his  grace  and  beauty  and  soldierly  accomplishments,  his  noble  and 
lovable  nature,  so  affectionate,  so  gentle,  and  at  the  same  time  so  brave 
and  manly,  and  his  heroic  death  in  one  of  the  great  battles  of  a  decisive 
campaign,  while  he  was  yet  in  the  bloom  and  promise  of  early  man- 
hood, taken  altogether,  have  given  to  McPherson  a  place  in  the  hearts 
of  mankind,  more  tender  and  interesting  than  that  which  belongs  to 
any  other  of  the  thousands  of  honored  heroes,  whose  death  in  battle 
his  countrymen  have  been  called  to  mourn.  His  name  will  be  forever 
found  on  the  shining  roll  of  the  world's  best  loved  heroes. 

Neither  Bayard,  nor  Sidney,  nor  Nelson,  nor  Wolfe,  nor  any 
other  knight  or  hero  of  the  old  world  in  any  age  had  better  titles  to 
love  and  grateful  remembrance  than  belong  to  him  whose  grave,  here 
at  his  birthplace,  we  are  now  about  to  mark. 

General  Grant,  in  1863,  recommending  General  McPherson  for 
promotion  to  Brigadier-General  in  the  Regular  Army,  wrote : 

"  He  has  been  with  me  in  every  battle  since  the  commencement  of 
-the  Rebellion,  except  Belmont,  at  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson,  Shiloh, 
.and  the  siege  of  Corinth.  As  a  staff  officer  and  engineer,  his  services 
were  conspicuous  and  highly  meritorious.  At  the  second  battle  of 


90 

Corinth  his  skill  as  a  soldier  was  displayed  in  successfully  carrying  re- 
inforcements to  the  besieged  garrison  when  the  enemy  was  between  him 
and  the  point  to  be  reached.  In  the  advance,  to  Central  Mississippi, 
General  McPherson  commanded  one  wing  of  the  army  with  all  the 
ability  possible  to  show,  he  having  the  lead  in  the  advance  and  the 
rear  in  retiring. 

In  the  campaign  and  siege  terminating  in  the  fall  of  Vicksburg, 
General  McPherson  has  filled  a  conspicuous  part.  At  the  battle  of 
Port  Gibson  it  was  under  his  direction  that  the  enemy  was  driven  late 
in  the  afternoon  from  a  position  they  had  succeeded  in  holding  all  day 
against  an  obstinate  attack.  His  corps,  the  advance  always,  under  his 
immediate  eye,  were  the  pioneers  from  Port  Gibson  to  Haukinson's 
Ferry.  From  the  north  fork  of  Bayou  Pierre  to  the  Black  River,  it 
was  a  constant  skirmish,  the  whole  skillfully  managed.  The  enemy  was 
so  closely  pursued  as  to  be  unable  to  destroy  their  bridges  of  boats  after 
them. 

From  Haukinson's  Ferry  to  Jackson,  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps 
marched  on  roads  not  traveled  by  other  troops,  fighting  the  entire 
battle  of  Raymond  alone,  and  the  bulk  of  Johnston's  army  was  fought 
by  his  corps,  entirely  under  the  management  of  General  McPherson. 
At  Champion  Hills,  the  Seventeenth  Corps  and  General  McPherson 
were  conspicuous.  All  that  could  be  termed  a  battle  there,  was  fought 
by  the  divisions  of  General  McPherson's  Corps  and  General  Hovey's 
division  of  the  Seventeenth  Corps. 

In  the  assault  of  the  22d  of  May,  on  the  fortification  of  Vicks- 
burg, and  during  the  entire  siege,  General  McPherson  and  his  corps 
took  unfading  laurels.  He  is  one  of  the  ablest  engineers  and  most 
skillful  generals.  I  would  respectfully  but  urgently  recommend  his 
promotion  to  the  position  of  Brigadier-General  of  the  Regular  Army. 

The  request  was  granted  and  he  was  confirmed  as  such  in  Decem- 
ber, 1863. 

GENERAL  CHARLES  GRANT  EATON. 


As  a  soldier,  physician,  and  citizen,  Colonel  Eaton  is  alike  favor- 
ably and  honorably  remembered.  Charles  Grant  Eaton  was  a  son  of 
Abel  and  Julia  Eaton,  and  was  born  at  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  Septem- 
ber 27,  1825.  His  parents  moved  to  Ohio  in  1828,  and  settled  in 
Licking  County. 

Charles  worked  on  a  farm  and  attended  the  common  schools  of 
that  community  until  manhood,  when  he  began  the  study  of  medicine 


91 

in  Granville,  under  the  tutorage  of  Dr.  Austin.  He  attended  lectures- 
at  Cincinnati  College  of  Medicine,  where  he  graduated  in  the  class  of 
1847. 

In  1853  Dr.  Eaton  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Clyde. 
His  tact  and  skill  soon  found  favor,  and  a  full  share  of  the  practice  of 
the  eastern  part  of  the  county  came  under  his  care.  His  professional 
career  was  uninterrupted  until  the  opening  of  the  rebellion.  He  was 
appointed  Captain  of  Company  A,  in  the  72d  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  was  with  that  gallant  regiment  throughout  its  honorable  career,, 
during  which  service  he  was  promoted  Major  and  Lieutenant  Colonel. 

He  came  out  of  the  service,  says  the  memorial  of  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee,  without  a  blemish  on  his  military  record,  and  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  Breveted  Brigadier-General,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  ser- 
vices. After  the  war,  Dr.  Eaton  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Clyde.  He  died  October  13,  1875. 


MAJOR  EUGENE  ALLEN  RAWSON. 

The  following  sketch  is  by  Dr.  Thomas  Stilwell,  of  Fremont,  and 
was  published  in  the  Fremont  Journal  soon  after  the  death  of  Major 
Rawson : 

Among  the  noble  men  who  have  earned  the  gratitude  of  a  nation, 
by  giving  their  strength  and  their  lives  to  its  defence,  few  there  are 
whose  memory  deserves  to  be  more  warmly  cherished  than  he  whose 
name  stands  at  the  head  of  this  article. 

While  at  school  at  Homer,  N.  Y.,  and  just  about  finishing  his 
academic  course,  preparatory  to  entering  Yale  College,  the  President's 
first  call  came  for  volunteers,  and  young  Rawson,  not  stopping  to  count 
the  cost  of  the  sacrifice  he  was  about  to  make,  joined  the  12th  New 
York  regiment  as  a  private.  In  that  capacity  he  took  a  noble  part  in 
the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  evincing  great  coolness  and  bravery.  When 
the  fortunes  of  the  day  went  against  General  McDowell's  army,  and 
when,  in  the  confusion  that  followed,  regiments  were  thrown  into  dis- 
order and  scattered,  he,  and  a  tried  companion,  sought  the  protection 
of  a  tree  from  behind  which  they  loaded  and  fired  until  his  friend  fell 
dead  by  his  side. 

In  December,  1861,  he  was  appointed  Adjutant  of  the  72d  O.  V.  I. 
by  the  Governor  of  Ohio,  and  was  accordingly  transferred  to  it  by  the- 
War  Department.  He  could  have  received  no  transfer  more  agreeable 
to  his  feelings,  and  none  more  complimentary.  The  72d  was  chiefly- 


92 

raised  in  his  own  county  and  was  composed,  in  a  great  measure,  of 
those  who  had  been  the  companions  of  his  boyhood.  Entering  upon 
the  duties  of  his  new  field,  he  at  once  exhibited  a  peculiar  fitness  for 
the  position  to  which  he  had  been  called,  and  from  his  previous 
•experience  in  the  service,  was  of  great  advantage  in  the  early  training 
of  the  regiment. 

He  left  Fremont  with  the  regiment  in  January,  1862,  when  it 
.moved  to  Camp  Chase,  preparatory  to  setting  out  on  its  final  destination 
— Paducah  and  the  Southwest.  When,  joined  to  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee,  the  72d  disembarked  at  Pittsburg  Lauding,  the  men  com- 
posing the  command  were  mostly  sick,  suffering  terribly  from  the  effect 
of  their  transit  and  with  the  disease  peculiar  to  that  Southern  climate, 
to  which  they  were  unused.  Major  Rawson's  natural  buoyancy  of 
spirit  and  cheerful,  sprightly  manner  could  not  otherwise  than  revive 
the  drooping  spirits  of  the  boys,  amongst  whom,  in  their  hour  of 
calamity,  he  went  about  "doing  good."  On  Friday  preceding  the 
commencement  of  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  Major  Crockett,  with  company 
H  and  company  B,  was  sent  forward  by  Colonel  Buckland  on  a  recon- 
noisance  to  ascertain  the  reason  of  the  unusual  firing  heard  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  picket  line.  Advancing  some  distance  and  failing  to  dis- 
cover the  cause,  Major  Crockett  separated  his  little  command,  moving 
himself  with  one  company  to  the  left,  while  he  sent  company  B, 
accompanied  by  Adjutant  Rawson,  to  the  right.  Major  Crockett's 
company,  after  proceeding  but  a  little  way,  were  met  by  a  superior 
force  of  rebel  cavalry.  The  Major  and  some  of  his  men  were  captured 
while  the  balance  barely  made  good  their  retreat.  Company  B,  con- 
tinuing its  course  to  the  right,  unconscious  of  the  fate  of  their  gallant 
Major  and  his  men,  were  confronted,  at  a  distance  of  a  mile  or  two 
farther,  by  the  same  cavalry,  which  had  so  summarily  disposed  of  their 
companions,  now  largely  reinforced.  Comprehending  at  a  glance  their 
situation,  they  discovered  at  once  that  retreat  was  impossible,  and  that 
the  alternative  remained  to  surrender  or  attempt  to  hold  the  enemy  at 
bay  until  reinforcements  should  arrive.  The  latter  course  was  unhesita- 
tingly adopted.  Choosing  an  elevated  piece  of  ground,  covered 
sparsely  by  trees,  they  prepared  for  the  attack. 

Their  position  placed  the  enemy  in  front,  the  ground  being  unfavor- 
able for  a  flank  movement.  Making  a  fallen  tree  their  breastwork, 
these  forty  men — who  had  never  before  stood  face  to  face  with  an 
€nemy,  who,  for  the  first  time  were  required  to  point  a  gun  or  pull  a 
trigger — held  in  check,  for  hours,  six  hundred  rebel  cavalry,  by  empty- 
ing the  saddles  of  the  advance  until,  to  their  great  relief,  a  volley  in  the 


93 

rear  of  their  enemy  announced  the  arrival  of  part  of  the  72d  regiment,, 
led  by  Colonel  Buckland,  who,  becoming  alarmed  at  their  long  absence, 
hastened  to  their  rescue  at  a  "  double-quick,"  and  just  in  time  to  defeat 
a  charge  the  rebels  had  drawn  sabre  to  make. 

Although  Major  Rawson  was  not  in  command  of  the  detachment, 
yet,  owing  to  the  feeble  health  of  Captain  Raymond,  the  conduct  of 
the  defence  devolved  principally  upon  him.  Under  his  direction,  a 
volley  of  only  ten  guns  were  fired  at  one  time,  so  that  a  sufficient 
reserve  should  remain  to  meet  out,  with  steady  aim,  another  and  still 
another  volley,  if  the  dashing  cavalry  should  choose  to  follow  up  their 
advance  after  receiving  the  first  round. 

After  the  fight  was  over,  the  enemy's  dead  of  men  and  horses 
counted,  and  the  few  wounded  prisoners  cared  for,  all,  both  officers 
and  men,  were  lavish  of  the  praise  they  bestowed  upon  their  young 
Adjutant.  Without  a  musket  himself,  he  picked  up  that  of  a  wounded 
comrade  and  fired  his  round  with  a  composure  that  did  no  discredit  to- 
his  exploit  at  Bull  Run. 

When  the  battle  opened  on  the  6th  of  April,  two  days  afterwards, 
and  the  rebels  came  like  an  avalanche  upon  our  unsuspecting  troops  at 
Shiloh,  Buckland's  brigade  responded  to  the  beat  of  the  "long-roll" 
with  such  alacrity  that  they  stood  in  the  very  front  of  Sherman's 
division,  ready  to  meet  the  coming  shock  before  the  enemy  had  gained 
rifle  distance  of  their  position.  Colonel  Buckland  being  in  command 
of  the  brigade,  the  command  devolved  upon  Lieutenant-Colonel  Can- 
field.  Major  Crockett,  the  only  other  field  officer  of  the  regiment, 
being  a  prisoner,  by  common  consent  Adjutant  Rawson  assumed  his- 
position  for  the  occasion.  At  the  first  or  second  fire,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Canfield  fell,  mortally  wounded,  and  he  alone  remained  to  command 
and  cheer  the  undaunted  boys  who  stood  steadfast  amid  the  storm  of 
leaden  hail  that  mowed  through  their  ranks  until  Colonel  Buckland, 
seeing  the  disaster  that  had  befallen  his  own  brave  regiment,  put  him- 
self at  their  head  and  led  them  through  the  fight.  The  horse  of  our 
young  Adjutant  was  shot  from  under  him  and  another  that  had  been 
sent  forward  for  him  being  captured  before  it  reached  him,  his  duties 
were  no  less  bravely  or  efficiently  performed  on  foot. 

The  history  of  the  72d  Regiment;  of  the  part  it  bore  in  the  three 
days'  fight  at  Pittsburg  Landing;  in  the  siege  of  Corinth;  in  the  pur- 
suit of  Forrest  through  Tennessee;  of  its  marches,  skirmishes  and 
battles  from  Memphis  to  Vicksburg;  of  its  pursuit  of  Johnson,  under 
Sherman,  to  Jackson ;  of  its  return  to  Memphis,  and  of  the  part  it 
enacted  in  the  great  expedition  of  General  Sherman  into  Mississippi — 


94 

is  the  history  of  Major  Rawson.  After  the  72d  had  re-enlisted  as 
veterans,  and  after  the  main  body,  composing  Sherman's  expedition, 
had  moved  southward,  a  small  force,  consisting  of  not  over  sixteen  hun- 
dred men,  was  sent  out  on  the  venturesome  expedition  of  making  a 
feint  into  the  enemy's  country,  to  aid  reinforcements  moving  to  the 
support  of  General  Sherman.  Of  this  comparatively  small  force,  the 
72d  formed  a  part  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Eaton 
and  Major  Rawson,  Adjutant  Rawson  having  been  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Major  by  the  unanimous  recommendation  of  the  officers,  and 
in  accordance  with  the  known  feeling  of  the  regiment,  although  he 
stood  not  in  the  regular  line  of  promotion. 

Arriving  at  the  Tallahatchie  River  in  the  evening,  and  finding  the 
enemy  encamped  in  large  force  on  the  opposite  bank,  they  lit  up  their 
camp  fires  in  such  profusion  as  to  deceive  the  rebels  into  the  belief 
they  were  a  body  of  some  six  or  eight  thousand  strong.  So  well  did 
they  play  their  part  that  they  kept  the  enemy  beguiled  and  at  rest 
until  time  enough  had  elapsed  to  permit  General  Smith  to  cross  the 
river  above,  at  the  point  chosen,  without  interference.  The  object  of 
their  expedition  attained,  they  were  ordered  to  return  to  Memphis. 
But  they  were  in  the  enemy's  country,  out  of  reach  of  reinforcements, 
numbering  less  than  sixteen  hundred,  with  the  rebels  in  strong  force  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  To  render  less  hazardous  their  retreat, 
it  became  necessary  to  burn  two  bridges.  Colonel  Eaton  received  the 
order  from  the  General  in  command  to  execute  the  task.  Dividing  his 
regiment,  he  marched  before  morning,  with  the  main  body  to  the  one 
supposed  to  be  the  most  strongly  guarded,  assigning  to  Major  Rawson 
two  small  companies  with  which  to  proceed  to  the  other,  where  it  was 
thought  but  few  would  be  found  to  offer  resistance.  The  reverse  proved 
to  be  the  case.  The  Major  it  was  who  encountered  the  larger  force. 
Having  arrived  at  the  bridge,  Major  Rawson  sent  his  pickets  across  to 
reconnoiter.  No  sooner  had  they  gained  the  opposite  side,  than  from  a 
point  out  of  sight  came  dashing  up  a  large  body  of  rebel  cavalry,  who 
commenced  firing  on  the  pickets.  Veterans  as  they  were,  they  knew 
too  much  to*  run  across  the  bridge,  where  they  would  be  sure  to  receive 
the  raking  fire  of  the  rebel  carbines.  So  they  jumped  over  the  sides 
into  the  water.  This  gave  them  the  protection  of  the  bank,  as  they 
well  knew  the  trusty  rifles  of  their  companions  would  make  a  near 
approach  to  the  bank,  a  place  where  a  rebel  would  hardly  venture  to 
''make  ready,  take  aim,  fire,"  even  at  the  command  of  a  Major-General 
himself.  A  brisk  little  fight  ensued — the  bridge  was  destroyed  without 


95 

the  loss  of  a  man  on  Major  Rawson's  side,  while  more  than  one  rebel 
grave  marks  the  site  where  the  old  bridge  stood — the  commanding  rebel 
General's  own  son  being  one  of  the  slain. 

From  the  badly  managed  expedition  of  which  the  72d  formed  a 
part,  sent  out  from  Memphis  under  General  Sturgis,  which  ended  so 
sadly  at  Guntown  and  Ripley,  in  Mississippi,  Major  Rawson  reached 
Memphis  with  such  of  the  officers  and  men  of  his  regiment  as  were 
saved  from  the  general  disaster — marching  over  eighty  miles  without 
food  or  rest,  in  less  than  forty-eight  hours.  The  72d  acting  as  a  rear 
guard  of  the  fleeing  troops,  valiantly  beat  back  the  pursuing  foe  until, 
out  of  ammunition  and  their  supply  train  destroyed  by  the  rebels,  they 
were  forced  to  make  good  their  escape  by  flight,  which  they  did  only 
after  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  regiment  had  been  captured. 

Scarcely  rested  from  the  terrible  scene  and  suffering  through 
which  they  had  passed,  the  regiment,  now  over  half  reduced  in  num- 
bers, in  command  of  Major  Rawson,  started  again,  under  General  A. 
J.  Smith,  to  encounter  the  same  foe.  Coming  up  to  the  enemy  at 
Tupelo,  Mississippi,  Major  Rawson  was  mortally  wounded  at  Old  Town 
-Creek,  six  miles  beyond,  while  gallantly  leading  a  charge  against  the 
rebel  lines.  Borne  from  the  field,  he  was  conveyed  back  to  Memphis. 

Major  Rawson  was  the  son  of  Dr.  La  Quinio  and  Sophia  Rawson. 
He  was  born  at  Fremont  on  the  14th  of  March,  1840 — married  to  Miss 
Jennie  Snyder,  an  amiable  and  accomplished  young  lady  of  Courtland 
County,  New  York,  on  the  31st  of  August,  1863,  while  absent  from 
his  regiment  on  a  short  furlough.  He  died  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  on 
the  22d  of  July,  seven  days  after  he  received  the  fatal  wound,  aged 
24  years.  Embalmed,  his  remains  were  sent  to  his  home,  Fremont, 
And  with  appropriate  funeral  services,  were  interred  in  Oak  Wood 
Cemetery,  followed  thither  by  a  very  large  concourse  of  his  friends  and 
fellow  citizens,  who  loved  the  boy,  and  mourned  the  death  of  the  young 
hero  and  patriot. 

RESOLUTIONS  ON  THE  DEATH  OF  MAJOR  RAWSON. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  72d  O.  V.  V.  I., 
held  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  on  the  28th  day  of  July,  1864,  for  the 
purpose  of  expressing  their  feelings  in  regard  to  the  death  of  Major 
Eugene  A.  Rawson,  Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  G.  Eaton  was  elected  Chair- 


96 

man,  and  Lieutenant  J.  Wells  Watterson,  R.  Q.  M.,  Secretary.  The 
meeting  was  called  to  order,  and  the  following  members  appointed  a 
Committee  on  Resolutions:  Lieutenant  Alph  B.  Putnam,  Company  I; 
Lieutenant  J.  F.  Harrington,  Company  A;  Sergeant  Corwine  Ens- 
minger,  Company  C ;  Sergeant  Abraham  Eldridge,  Company  I ;  Cor- 
poral Samuel  Persing,  Company  A.  The  following  resolutions  were 
presented  and  unanimously  adopted  by  the  meeting : 

WHEREAS,  It  has  pleased  Almighty  God  to  remove  from  us  our 
brother  officer  and  soldier,  Major  Eugene  A.  Rawson,  by  death  on  the 
22d  July  inst.,  of  wounds  received  on  the  15th  inst.,  while  bravely 
leading  his  regiment  in  a  charge  against  the  enemy's  lines,  at  the  battle 
of  Old  Town  Creek ;  and  whereas,  we,  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the 
72d  O.  V.  V.  L,  desire  to  express,  in  a  suitable  manner,  our  respect 
for  the  noble  dead,  and  our  deep  regret  for  his  untimely  fall, 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Major  Eugene  A.  Rawson,  our 
regiment  has  lost  a  brave,  heroic  and  devoted  officer  and  soldier,  the 
nation,  one  of  her  most  ardent  patriots  and  defenders,  his  family,  a 
distinguished  member,  his  friends  and  brothers  in  arms,  a  dear  and 
valued  companion. 

Resolved,  That  we  declare  our  conviction,  that  the  life  of  th& 
deceased,  while  connected  with  the  72d  Ohio,  has  been  one  of  unwearied 
devotion  to  duty  and  to  the  service  of  his  suffering  country,  and  whether 
in  the  quiet  camp  or  the  toilsome  march,  or  in  the  blaze  or  fury  of 
battle,  he  alike  ably,  patiently  and  heroically  performed,  with  untiring 
energy,  all  that  fell  to  his  lot ;  and  when  struck  by  the  fatal  ball,  was 
found  at  his  post  fearlessly  offering  his  life  that  his  country  might  live. 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  the  family  and  friends  of  the  deceased, 
and  especially  the  young  wife  who  has  thus  early  been  called  to  mourn 
the  death  of  her  husband,  our  deepest  sympathy  and  condolence  in 
this,  their  sad  bereavement. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  furnished  the  friends 
of  the  deceased ;  also  a  copy  to  the  Fremont  Journal  and  Sentinel,  and 
the  Courtland  County  Journal,  of  Homer,  New  York. 

C.  G.  EATON, 

J.  WELLS  WATTERSON,  Chairman. 

Secretary. 


97 
CHESTER  AVERILL  BUCKLAND, 

Son  of  Stephen  and  Lucy  Buckland,  was  born  January  6th,  1841,  at 
Edinburg,  then  in  Portage,  now  in  Summit  County.  He  came  with 
his  parents  while  yet  young  to  Fremont,  and  at  an  early  period  deter- 
mined to  learn  a  trade  and  be  independent.  He  accordingly  served  an 
apprenticeship  at  the  printing  business  in  the  Fremont  Journal  office, 
under  the  instruction  of  Isaac  M.  Keeler,  (the  then  editor  and  pub- 
lisher of  the  paper).  He  evinced  so  much  manliness  and  intelligence 
that  his  parents  determined  to  give  him  an  education,  and  for  that  pur- 
pose, sent  him  to  Western  Reserve  College,  at  Hudson.  Here  young 
Buckland  made  rapid  progress  in  his  studies,  and  developed  qualities 
which  promised  a  high  and  noble  manhood.  From  the  time  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion  first  broke  out,  he  had  a  burning  desire  to  enter  the 
Union  army,  but  could  not  obtain  the  consent  of  his  mother.  When 
his  older  brother,  Henry  W.  Buckland  enlisted,  and  became"  Lieutenant 
of  Company  B,  of  the  Seventy-second  Regiment,  Chester  made  further 
appeals  to  his  mother  by  writing  to  her  from  Hudson,  asking;  her  to 
consent  to  his  enlistment.  The  letters  he  wrote  are  so  full  of  expres- 
sions of  filial  obedience,  and  yet  so  earnest,  that  they  honor  both 
parents  and  their  child.  They  are  given  here,  not  specially  to  praise 
young  Buckland,  but  to  show  the  spirit  of  a  representative  young  man 
of  our  county : 

HUDSON,  Nov.  10,  1861, 

Dear  Parents: — I  write  home,  at  the  present  time,  for  your  permission  te- 
enier the  army.  Notwithstanding  my  great  and  burning  desire  to  go  and  over- 
turn the  rebels,  I  have  held  back  by  your  advice,  and  in  accordance  witli  your 
wishes.  You  do  not  know  how  many  times  I  have  regretted  I  was  not  in  the 
army,  and  often  I  think  I  seem  a  coward  that  I  have  not  gone.  But  I  gave  my 
promise  that  I  should  not  go  without  your  consent,  and  I  do  not  wish  to  break 
it.  A  great  many  of  my  friends  have  gone,  and  to  me  it  seems  as  if  I  should 
be  with  them.  You  think  me  unable  to  undergo  the  life  of  a  soldier.  I,  as 
well  as  others,  have  sound,  unblemished  limbs,  fine  textured  muscles,  capable  of 
great  developments,  and  which  can  be  taught  to  bear  fatigue.  To  be  sure  lam 
small  in  stature,  but  it  has  been  proved  that  small  men  make  the  best  soldiers, 
capable  of  enduring  more  fatigue,  excitement,  hunger,  thirst  and  danger,  than 
large  men,  being  sounder  and  more  compactly  built.  I  have  calculated  the 
costs,  the  danger,  toil  and  privations  I  will  have  to  undergo,  and  with  your  con- 
sent I  will  most  gladly  endure  them  all.  Do  not  refuse  me.  1  know  it  will 
cause  you  many  an  anxious  hour,  but  you  will  love  to  boast  of  me,  as  well  as 
of  my  brother.  I  would  of  course  want  to  go  with  Henry.  Besides,  I  should 
no  longer  be  a  burden  to  you,  but  could  let  you  have  the  most  of  my  money 


98 

which  I  would  draw  from  the  Government,  instead  of  drawing  from  you,  which 
you  can  scarcely  spare.  Do  not  think  this  is  a  sudden  streak  in  me,  for  it  is 
not.  It  has  long  been  forming  and  every  day  becomes  stronger  and  more 
powerful,  and  many  times  I  have  almost  said  I  would  go.  You  well  know  that 
long  since  I  should  have  gone,  had  you  not  restrained  me,  and  now  it  requires 
but  one  word,  and  I  will  go.  Do  not  withhold  it.  The  more  I  see  of  the  hard- 
ships, pain  and  suffering  in  this  war,  the  more  I  want  to  go  and  help  punish 
the  causes  of  it.  I  have  delayed  long  enough,  and  I  feel  that  I  cannot  do  so 
very  long.  I  think  it  my  duty  to  go.  There  are  none  dependent  on  me,  and  I 
can  afford,  as  well  as  others,  to  leave  my  home,  and  all  I  love  for  my  country's 
welfare.  Now  that  I  have  gone  thus  far,  do  not  refuse  me.  There  are  many 
men  who  have  left  their  wives  and  children  to  go.  I  have  neither,  and  there 
are  none  who  would  suffer  should  I  fall.  Besides,  I  should  be  in  far  better 
health  after  I  got  used  to  it.  I  must  close  now,  so  good-bye,  and  soon  return  a 
favorable  reply  to  your  son, 

CHESTER  A.  BUCKLAND. 

CAMP  SHILOH,  WEST  TENNESSEE,         1 
*  Saturday,  April  5,  18G2.    / 

Dear  Mother:— You  may  glory  in  us  now.  Yesterday,  while  drilling,  about 
a  mile  from  here,  our  pickets  were  fired  upon.  In  a  very  few  moments  the 
Seventy-second  was  on  its  way  to  battle  at  a  double-quick  step.  Company  B  in 
the  rear.  When  we  arrived  at  a  convenient  place,  we  were  deployed  as  skir- 
mishers, and  were  to  try  and  surround  the  rebels.  We  wandered  along  a  couple 
of  miles.  Henry  and  I  were  near  the  end  of  the  company.  The  company  was 
in  groups  of  four,  each  twenty  paces  apart.  An  order  was  given  to  rally  on 
first  group,  when  the  front  commenced  to  fire,  but  ceased  before  we  could  get  up. 
We  wandered  in  a  body  for  nearly  an  hour,  making  frequent  halts.  Every  ear 
was  listening  and  every  eye  watching  for  sound  or  sight  of  the  enemy.  Nearly 
an  hour  from  the  first  fire  we  got  sight  of  them  again,  and  nearly  all  got  a 
chance  to  fire.  We  think  one  was  killed  or  badly  wounded.  Here  we  found 
there  were  more  than  we  thought,  so  we  retreated  to  a  pen  built  of  rails  and 
then  to  a  big  tree  on  the  brow  of  a  ravine.  In  a  little  time  the  rebel  cavalry 
rode  up  in  sight,  and  then  the  fight  began.  I  could  hear  the  balls  go  "  whip  " 
through  the  air  and  strike  the  trees  around  us.  There  were  a  hundred  and  fifty 
rebels  against  forty-four  of  us.  Once  in  a  while  one  would  drop  from  his  horse 
or,  a  horse  would  fall  dead  or  wounded.  We  would  load,  run  up  where  we  could 
see,  drop  on  our  knees,  take  aim  and  fire,  and  then  run  back  to  load.  In  this 
manner  we  made  them  believe  there  were  a  great  many  more  of  us  than  there 
were.  In  this  part  of  the  fight  two  of  our  men  were  wounded,  Charles  H.  Ben- 
nett in  the  right  leg  and  James  Titswood  through  the  left  breast  above  the 
heart.  When  we  had  fought  about  three  fourths  of  an  hour,  it  commenced  to 
rain  and  hail,  which  made  it  difficult  to  load  without  wetting  the  powder.  Then 
the  rebels  retreated.  In  a  very  little  time  it  rained  so  hard  we  could  not  see 
more  than  a  couple  of  rods,  which  was  just  exactly  the  time  for  them  to  ride  on 
and  cut  us  in  pieces.  We  threw  out  guards  to  watch  for  them.  I  never  knew  it 
to  rain  so  hard.  When  the  rain  had  ceased,  we  saw  them  forming  on  a  sort  of 


99 

iprairie  beyond  the  reach  of  our  Enfields.  In  a  short  time  they  gave  a  great 
shout  and  advanced  on  us.  As  soon  as  they  were  in  good  reach,  we  commenced 
to  drop  them  again.  They  had  been  reinforced  to  about  four  or  five  hundred, 
beside  what  may  have  been  in  reserve.  We  fought  here  about  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  more,  during  which  three  more  were  wounded  and  several  had  holes  shot 
in  their  clothes,  one  having  a  thumb  broke,  two  shots  in  his  arm,  one  through 
his  clothes,  and  one  in  his  boot.  Now  was  the  desperate  time.  The  rebels 
fired  a  volley,  drew  sabres,  and  began  to  advance.  They  were  on  three  sides  of 
us.  Our  hearts  began  to  sink.  We  rallied  around  the  old  white  oak,  each  one 
firmly  grasping  his  gun  with  its  powder  stained  bayonet,  and  determined  to  give 
as  good  as  we  got.  How  fierce  we  felt.  Our  last  chance  seemed  gone,  when  a 
volley  sounded  in  the  rear  of  the  rebels.  It  was  the  Seventy-second.  How 
loud  the  hurrahs  sounded  then.  It  was  the  sweetest  music  I  ever  heard.  The 
rebels  turned  and  fled.  We  were  saved.  We  fired  as  long  as  we  could  reach 
them  and  then  took  Titswood  in  care,  and  then  we  went  over  to  where  part  of 
the  rebels  had  been.  We  found  two  mortally  wounded  ones.  Our  Enfields 
make  wicked  holes.  The  first  was  a  young  boy  of  about  eighteen.  He  was 
afraid  of  us  and  wanted  to  know  what  we  would  do  with  him.  We  promised 
to  take  care  of  him  as  we  would  of  our  own  men.  He  was  assured  of  this,  for 
one  wanted  to  kill  him,  but  we  raked  him  so  the  boy  was  encouraged.  Com- 
pany A  passed  over  the  ground  where  our  heaviest  fire  was  aimed  and  found  a 
great  many  sabres,  pistols,  guns,  blankets,  and  everything  they  couldn't  take 
away.  They  had  a  battery  not  far  from  where  we  were,  and  the  cavalry 
followed  them  nearly  into  it.  I  have  heard  our  men  took  two  pieces  of  artillery, 
but  am  not  certain  if  it  be  true.  None  on  our  side  were  killed,  but  Major 
Crockett,  I  fear,  is  a  prisoner.  The  last  seen  of  him,  he  was  riding  like  a  flash 
through  the  woods,  followed  by  a  dozen  rebel  horsemen.  He  had  no  arms  with 
him  and  couldn't  fight  them.  A  sergeant  and  a  corporal  were  taken  prisoners 
from  Company  H.  Company  H  had  four  wounded,  one,  the  color-sergeant,  old 
Dr.  Gessner's  son.  He  was  taken  prisoner  and  told  to  climb  behind  one  of  the 
rebels,  which  he  would  not  do.  The  rebel  drew  a  revolver  and  snapped  it  at 
him,  but  it  missed  fire.  He  ran  while  the  rebel  was  cocking  it  again,  when  the 
fellow  shot  and  hit  him  in  the  shoulder.  Our  men  took  nine  or  ten  prisoners 
who  said  they  hadn't  thought  we  could  shoot  so  well.  We  must  have  killed 
about  as  many  as  there  was  of  us,  for  every  man  took  aim  and  there  are  some 
who  don't  miss  often.  Orrin  England  and  Eugene  Rawson  were  with  our  com- 
pany, and  neither  one  of  them  had  even  a  pistol,  but  as  soon  as  Titswood  was 
wounded,  Orrin  took  his  gun  and  cartridge  box  and  fought  well,  while  Eugene 
stood  up  with  the  boys  and  talked  and  laughed,  and  told  them  to  keep  cool  and 
take  good  aim.  It  was  no  light  matter  to  stand  up  unarmed,  and  a  lot  of 
fellows  shooting  at  one.  While  we  were  bringing  in  the  wounded,  there  was  a 
heavy  battle  not  far  from  where  we  fought.  Our  fight  will  not  probably  appear 
in  the  papers,  but  we  had  a  hard  struggle  and  against  most  fearful  odds.  Ten 
to  one  is  a  great  disadvantage.  Two  minutes  more  and  Company  B,  Seventy- 
second  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  would  have  been  no  more.  We  would  have 
all  been  killed,  for  each  one  would  have  died  fighting.  It  would"  have  been  a 
barren  victory,  for  there  would  have  been  a  dead  rebel  or  two  for  every  one  of 


100 

us.  Our  bayonets  were  fixed  and  they  are  sorry  things  to  run  upon.  We  were 
willing  to  stop  fighting.  How  soon  we  will  have  another  fight,  I  don't  know, 
but  any  minute  the  long  roll  may  sound  for  battle.  We  may  fight  and  die;  but, 
mother,  your  sons  will  never  quail.  It  is  getting  too  dark  to  write,  so  I  must 
close.  Good-bye,  dear  mother,  and  remember  if  I  die,  it  is  for  my  country. 

Your  son, 

CHESTER  A.  BUCKLAND. 

That  these  appeals  were  successful,  the  above  letter  shows.  The 
patriotic  mother  could  no  longer  withhold  her  consent.  On  the  22d 
day  of  November,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B  of  the  Seventy-second 
Regiment,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years.  He  went  with  the  regiment  to 
Shiloh,  and  there,  early  in  the  day  of  the  6th  of  April,  he  was  wounded 
in  the  knee  by  a  rifle  shot  from  the  enemy.  The  news  of  his  being 
wounded  reached  home.  Lists  of  the  wounded,  who  had  been  sent 
homeward,  were  published  in  the  papers.  The  anxious  parents  watched 
eagerly  the  list  of  those  sent  to  Ohio,  but  Chester's  name  was  not 
found.  It  appeared  subsequently,  but  by  mistake  his  name  was  in  the 
list  of  those  sent  to  Indiana. 

Our  people,  at  once,  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  sent  a  committee 
there  and  another  to  Cincinnati  to  look  after  the  returning  wounded. 
Dr.  L.  Q.  Rawson,  while  at  Cincinnati,  found  that  young  Buckland 
had  died  of  his  wound  on  a  steamboat,  which  was  bringing  him  to  that 
city  from  Cairo.  Dr.  Rawson  immediately  sent  the  remains  home- 
ward, informing  the  parents  by  telegraph.  The  remains  arrived  in  due 
time,  and  after  solemn  services,  were  deposited  by  a  large  collection  o' 
mourning,  patriotic  citizens  in  Oakwood  Cemetery,  where  they  rest. 

Who  did  more  for  his  country  than  Chester  A.  Buckland,  who  gave 
to  it  a  dearer  offering  than  did  his  father  and  mother  ? 


MANVILLE  MOORE. 

The  subject  of  this  notice,  whose  name  the  newly  organized  Post 
of  the  G.  A.  R.  in  this  city  bears,  was  a  Saudusky  County  boy,  born 
December  10,  1840,  in  the  old  Moore  homestead,  a  short  distance 
above  Ballville.  He  was  the  third  son  of  James  and  Harriet  Moore, 
one  of  his  brothers  being  Captain  LeRoy  Moore,  who  raised  a  company 
(F)  for  the  Seventy-second  Ohio  Volunteers,  another,  Charles  T. 
Moore,  who,  at  the  outbreak  ot  the  Avar,  was  too  young  to  enlist. 

Manville's  early  life  was  spent  at  home  amid  the  varied  duties  of 
the  farm,  mill  and  school,  until  his  eighteenth  year,  when  he  was  sent  J 


101 

to  attend  college  at  Oberlin.  He  spent  a  part  of  the  following  three 
years  there,  and  was  prepared  to  enter  the  third  or  sophomore  }rear, 
when  the  firing  on  Fort  Sumter,  in  April,  1861,  startled  him  from  his 
books  and  studies,  and,  hastening  to  his  home,  he  at  once  enlisted  as  a 
private,  April  24,  1861,  for  three  months,  in  the  Croghan  Guards 
{Captain  Wm.  E.  Haynes),  then  organizing  in  Fremont,  being  then 
21  years  of  age.  His  company  was  afterward  assigned  to  the  Eighth 
Ohio  Volunteers  as  Company  G,  but  it  was  never  ordered  further  than 
Gamp  Dennison  during  its  three  months'  service.  There,  on  the  24th 
day  of  June,  1861,  he  re-enlisted,  and  was  re-mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  for  three  years,  as  Fourth  Corporal  in  Company  G. 

There  is  no  call  to  mention  here  the  history  and  deeds  of  the 
Eighth  Ohio;  they  are  well  known  by  the  people  of  Sandusky  County 
and  the  readers  of  the  Journal  Said  Governor  Brough,  in  his  letter 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  their  regimental  flags  in  August,  1864: 

"The  record  of  the  Eighth  Ohio  is  among  the  most  brilliant  of 
those  made  during  the  war.  It  reflects  honor  alike  upon  the  men  who 
have  written  it  with  their  blood  and  their  lives,  and  the  State  they 
have  so  well  represented  and  defended.  Upon  every  field  they  have 
fought,  and  every  contest  in  which  they  have  been  engaged,  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  command  have  displayed  earnest  zeal,  courage  and 
patriotic  fidelity  to  the  country." 

From  the  date  of  his  enlistment  for  three  months,  until  the  time 
of  his  death.  Corporal  Moore  served  constantly  with  his  company  and 
regiment,  participating  in  all  its  marches,  and  thirty-four  skirmishes 
and  battles.  Among  the  battles  were  Winchester,  March  23d,  1862; 
South  Mountain,  September  14th,  1862;  Antietam,  September  16th 
and  ]7th,  1862;  Fredericksburg,  December  13th,  1862;  Chancellors- 
ville,  May  2d,  3d,  4th  and  5th,  1863 ;  and  it  was  at  Gettysburg,  the 
high  water  mark  of  the  rebellion,  on  the  3d  of  July,  1863,  that  Cor- 
poral Moore  received  a  fatal  wound.  He  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at 
Baltimore,  Maryland,  where,  on  the  15th  day  of  July,  1863,  he  sealed 
his  devotion  to  his  country  and  flag  by  his  death.  His  body  was 
brought  home  by  his  father  and  buried  in  the  family  lot  in  Oak  Wood 
Cemetery,  July  22d,  1863. 

His  surviving  comrades  of  the  Eighth  Ohio  and  other  commands, 
appreciating  the  nobility  of  character  of  that  large  class  of  young 
patriots,  of  which  he  was  such  a  fitting  representative,  have,  with  unani- 
mous consent,  adopted  his  as  the  name  of  their  new  Post  of  the 
G.  A.  R.  No.  525. 


102 
COLONEL  GEORGE  CROGHAN 

Was  born  near  Louisville,  Kentucky,  November  15,  1791.  His  father. 
Major  William  Croghan,  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  a  gallant  soldier 
of  the  Revolution  He  was  a  nephew  of  the  gallant  hero,  General 
George  Rogers  Clark,  the  father  of  the  western  country,  and  also- 
General  William  Clark,  at  one  time  Governor  of  Missouri. 

Young  Croghan  received  the  best  education  the  Grammar  schools 
of  Kentucky  afforded,  and  afterwards  pursued  his  studies  at  William 
and  Mary  College,  Virginia,  where  he  graduated  with  high  honors  in 
July,  1810.  He  soon  afterwards  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but  in 
the  fall  of  1811,  he  volunteered  as  a  private  and  was  soon  afterward 
appointed  Aid  to  General  Harrison  and  distinguished  himself  in  the 
battle  of  Tippecanoe.  After  the  declaration  of  war  with  Great  Britain,, 
he  was  appointed  Captain  in  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  of  Infantry, 
and  was  made  Major,  May  5th,  1813.  He  distinguished  himself  in 
the  memorable  siege  of  Fort  Meigs;  and  on  August  2d,  1813,  success- 
fully defended  Fort  Stephenson,  with  a  garrison  of  160  men,  against 
the  attack  of  General  Proctor,  with  a  force  of  over  1,000  English 
Regulars  and  Indians;  this,  notwithstanding  the  fort  was  so  weakly 
constructed  and  poorly  provided,  he  had  actually  been  ordered  to 
abandon  it.  For  this  exploit  he  was  awarded  the  brevet  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  and  twenty-two  years  afterward  (February  13th,  1835) 
received  a  gold  medal  from  Congress,  a  duplicate  of  which  may  be  seen  in. 
Birchard  Library.  He  was  made  Inspector  General,  December  13th, 
1825,  and  in  that  capacity  served  with  General  Taylor  in  Mexico  in 
1846-7.  He  died  at  New  Orleans,  January  8th,  1849. 

From  another  sketch  of  Colonel  Croghan,  the  following  extract  is- 
made  : 

The  defence  of  Fort  Stephenson  was  not  only  the  most  brilliant 
achievement  in  the  military  life  of  Colonel  Croghan,  but  formed  one  of 
the  brightest  epochs  in  the  war.  It  filled  the  country  with  rejoicing, 
and  won  for  its  gallant  leader  the  warmest  and  most  enthusiastic  grati- 
tude in  the  breasts  of  his  countrymen.  His  whole  force  consisted  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  raw  and  inexperienced  troop?,  with  but  a  single 
piece  of  ordnance,  and  that  only  a  six  pounder.  The  force  of  the 
attack  consisted  of  one  thousand  men,  one-half  of  them  British  Regu- 
lars, the  balance  Indians,  who  had  been  promised  free  booty  in  case  of 
victory,  of  which  no  one  entertained  a  doubt.  The  whole  was  under 
the  immediate  command  of  the  notorious  General  Proctor  The 


SERGEANT,  WILLIAM  GAINES. 


103 

savages  were  led  by  the  daring  Tecumseh.  To  aid  them  in  the  assault, 
the  enemy  had  five  six  pounders  and  a  large  howitzer.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  1st  of  August,  General  Proctor  sent  into  the  fort  a  sum- 
mons to  surrender,  accompanied  with  the  well-understood  and  fiendish 
intimation,  that  if  resistance  were  offered,  it  would  be  impossible  to 
restrain  the  savages,  and  that  no  quarter  would  be  afforded  in  case  of 
victory  accompanying  the  assault.  Un  terrified  by  this  dastardly  sum- 
mons, Major  Croghan  returned  for  answer,  "That  he  should  defend  the 
fort  to  the  last  extremity."  By  the  most  consummate  arrangements,  he 
was  able,  not  only  to  defend  his  post,  but  to  carry  slaughter  and  dis- 
may into  the  heart  of  the  enemy,  who  suddenly  retreated,  covered  with 
confusion,  and  leaving  behind  him  one  hundred  slain,  and  a  large  boat 
laden  with  military  stores.  Major  Croghan's  loss  was  one  killed  and 
seven  slightly  wounded.  For  this  brave  and  well-conducted  defence, 
he  received  the  thanks  of  Congress,  and  several  of  the  Western 
States  A  gold  medal  was  also  ordered  to  be  struck  commemorative  of 
this  gallant  exploit,  and  he  was  promoted  to  a  Lieutenant-Colonelcy. 
During  the  remainder  of  the  war,  Colonel  Croghan  was  actively  engaged 
in  the  defence  of  his  country,  and  on  its  close  he  retired  to  the  peaceful 
pursuits  of  private  life,  bearing  with  him  the  respect  and  attachment  of 
the  army  and  his  countrymen. 


SERGEANT  WM.  GAINES, 

THE    LAST   SURVIVOR    OF   THE    GALLANT   BAND   THAT   DEFENDED    FORT 

STEPHENSON. 

The  only  surviving  member  of  the  gallant  little  band  that  defended 
Fort  Stephenson,  seventy-two  years  ago,  is  Sergeant  William  Gaines, 
now  living  at  Wilson  Station,  Ellsworth  County,  Kansas.  The  Monu- 
mental Association  tendered  him  a  pressing  invitation  to  be  present  at 
the  unveiling  of  the  monument,  but  owing  to  his  age  and  infirmities  he 
deemed  it  unwise  to  make  the  journey.  About  five  years  ago  Sergeant 
Gaines  was  an  inmate  of  the  Barnes  Hospital,  at  the  Soldiers'  Home, 
Washington,  and  at  that  time  we  published  an  interview  with  him, 
made  for  the  Journal.  Some  facts  in  regard  to  this  old  veteran  will  be 
of  interest  now. 

William  Gaines  was  born  at  Frederick  City,  Maryland,  on  Christ- 
mas day,  1799.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Virginia.  His 
grandfather  was  a  relative  of  General  Gaines,  of  the  Army.  In 


104 

1810  Gaines  went  With  an  uncle — Colonel  Davis — to  Lexington, 
Kentucky.  The  latter  raised  a  volunteer  regiment  in  the  Indian  War 
of  18 11  and  joined  General  Harrison.  Gaines  went  with  his  uncle  to 
take  care  of  his  horse,' and  in  that  way  came  to  be  in  the  battle  of 
Tippecanoe.  His  uncle  was  killed  in  that  battle. 

July  18th,  1812,  William  Gaines,  then  in  his  thirteenth  year, 
enlisted  as  drummer  boy  in  Captain  Armstrong's  Company  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Infantry.  The  month  of  June,  1812,  he  spent  at  Fort 
Meigs,  and  in  July  his  company  was  ordered  to  General  Harrison's 
headquarters  at  Fort  Seneca.  While  there,  a  rumor  came  that  the 
British  would  attack  Fort  Stephenson,  and  Gaines,  who  had  exchanged 
his  drum  for  a  musket,  was  one  of  the  number  detailed  to  render  aid  if 
needed  to  the  garrison  at  Fort  Stephenson.  The  detail  reached  the 
fort  an  hour  before  the  British  came  in  sight  and  commenced  landing 
from  1  heir  gun  boats.  Sergeant  Gaines'  recollection  of  the  battle  was 
very  distinct,  and  he  accurately  described  it  in  the  interview.  Samuel 
Thurman,  a  member  of  Gaines'  company,  and  one  of  the  detail  sent  to 
the  relief  of  Fort  Stephenson,  was  the  only  member  of  Croghan's  gar- 
rison that  was  killed.  Gaines  says  Thurman  was  in  the  block  house 
and  determined  to  shoot  a  red  coat.  He  climbed  upon  the  top  of  the 
block  house  and  peered  over,  when  a  six  pound  ball  took  off  his  head. 
After  the  battle,  Gaines  returned  to  his  company  and  remained  at  Fort 
Seneca  until  after  the  news  of  Perry's  victory.  They  then  marched 
past  Fort  Stephenson  to  the  lake,  where  they  were  furnished  with  boats 
and  crossed  over  into  Canada.  They  landed  at  Colonel  Elliot's  quarters, 
from  there  went  to  Fort  Maiden,  then  to  Sand  Beach  and  on  October 
5th  fought  in  the  battle  of  the  Thames.  Gaines  remained  continually 
in  the  army  and  was  assigned  to  Sacketts  Harbor,  New  York,  for 
nearly  seventeen  years.  He  was  appointed  Corporal,  October  26th, 
1818,  and  promoted  to  Sergeant,  March  3d,  1819.  He  took  part  in 
the  Black  Hawk  war,  had  charge  of  all  the  property  at  Sacketts 
Harbor  during  the  Florida  war,  and  was  there  too  during  the  Mexican 
war.  During  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  he  had  charge  of  the  quarter- 
masters' stores,  medical  and  other  property  at  Madison  Barracks,  New 
York.  In  January,  1867,  he  went  to  the  Soldiers'  Home,  at  Washing- 
ton, where  he  had  charge  of  many  improvements  and  was  lodge  keeper 
at  one  of  the  gates  for  many  years.  He  was  placed  on  the  retired  list 
of  the  army  May  3d,  1880,  with  seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  full  pay 
and  allowance  of  an  Ordnance  Sergeant  during  his  natural  life.  He 
went  to  Kansas  a  short  time  since,  where  he  resides  with  relatives. 

At  the  time  of  this  interview  Sergeant  Gaines  was  described  as  an 


105 

active  old  man,  about  five  feet  seven  inches  in  height,  of  dark  com- 
plexion, standing  perfectly  erect  and  of  soldierly  bearing,  with  bright 
grey  eyes,  white  hair  and  strongly  marked  features.  He  enlisted  in  his 
thirteenth  year  and  probably  no  man  has  served  longer  in  the  United 
States  Army  than  he. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ADJ.  GEN'S  OFFICE,        ) 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  December  11,  1879.f 

Sir: — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the 
second  day  of  August,  1879,  requesting  a  "statement  of  service"  of  William 
Gaines.  The  following  information  has  been  obtained  from  the  files  of  this 
office,  and  is  respectfully  furnished  in  reply  to  your  inquiry  : 

It  appears  from  the  records  of  this  office  that  William  Gaines  was  enlisted 
on  the  23d  day  of  November,  1816,  at  New  York  City,  to  serve  five  years,  and 
was  assigned  to  Company  D,  Second  Regiment  of  United  States  Infantry ;  was 
appointed  Corporal,  26th  October,  1818;  promoted  to  Sergeant  3rd  March,  1819 ; 
discharged  as  Sergeant  4th  June,  1821,  under  act  to  reduce  the  army ;  re-enlisted 
as  Sergeant,  5th  June,  1821,  for  two  years, eleven  months  and  twenty-one  days  in 
Company  C,  Second  Infantry  ;  discharged  as  Sergeant  by  expiration  of  service, 
27th  May,  1824;  re-enlisted  26th  October,  1825,  in  Company  H,  Second  Infantry  ; 
promoted  to  Regimental  Sergeant-Major,  5th  September,  1826  ;  discharged  as 
Regimental  Sergeant-Major,  Second  Infantry,  25th  July,  1830;  appointed 
Ordnance  Sergeant,  United  States  Army,  18th  October,  1833;  served  continuously 
as  Ordnance  Sergeant  to  31st  December,  1866,  when  he  was  discharged  by  S.  O. 
626,  A.  G.  O.,  1866. 

The  following  is  his  service  as  Ordnance  Sergeant:  Appointed  18th  Oc- 
tober, 1833,  discharged  24th  July,  1835,  expiration  of  service;  re-enlisted  24th 
July,  1835,  discharged  24th  July,  1838,  expiration  of  service;  re-enlisted  24th 
July,  1838,  discharged  23d  July,  1843,  expiration  of  service;  re-enlisted  23d 
July,  1843,  discharged  23d  July,  1848,  expiration  of  service;  re-enlisted  23d 
July,  1848,  discharged  21st  July,  1853,  expiration  of  service;  re-enlisted  21st 
July,  1853,  discharged  21st  July,  1858,  expiration  of  service;  re-enlisted  21st 
July,  1858,  discharged  16th  July,  1863,  expiration  of  service;  re-enlisted  16th 
•July,  1883,  discharged  31st  December,  1866,  S.  O.  626,  A.  G.  O. 

There  is  satisfactory  evidence  that  William  Gaines  enlisted  under  the  name 
of  William  Riggs,  on  the  llth  of  August,  1812,  at  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  to 
serve  for  five  years  in  Captain  Francis  W.  Armstrong's  Company,  of  the  Twenty- 
Fourth  Infantry,  and  that  he  served  in  said  company  until  January,  1815,  or 
thereabouts. 

He  served  about  two  years  and  five  months  in  the  Twenty-Fourth  United 
States  Infantry ;  about  fifteen  years  and  six  months  in  the  Second  United  States 
Infantry;  and   about  thirty-three  years  and  two  months  as  an  Ordnance  Ser- 
geant, making  his  total  service  about  fifty-one  years  and  one  month. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 

Adjutant  General. 
To  Mr.    Webb  C.  Hayes,  Executive  Mansion. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES. 


FORT  STEPHENSON. 


Tradition — scarcely  history — tells  us  that  perhaps  three  centuries- 
ago  two  walled  towns  were  built  near  each  other  on  the  lower  rapids  of 
the  Sandusky.  All  the  Indians  west  of  this  point  were  at  war  with  all 
the  Indians  east.  French  historians  tell  us  these  cities  were  inhabited 
and  their  neutral  character  respected  when  they  first  came  here.  This 
goes  only  to  show  that  the  Indians  long  ago  recognized  the  importance 
of  this  place  in  time  of  war. 

As  early  as  1785,  in  a  treaty  with  the  Indian  tribes,  the  United 
States  reserved,  among  others,  a  tract  of  land  "  two  miles  square  on 
each  side  of  the  lower  rapids  of  the  Sandusky  River."  By  the  treaty 
made  at  Fort  Harmar,  January  9th,  1789,  by  Governor  St  Clair  and 
the  Indian  tribes,  this  reservation  was  again  made.  But  it  does  not 
appear  that  any  survey  of  the  reservation  was  made  under  either  treaty. 
General  Wayne,  in  the  treaty  made  at  Greenville,  August  30,  1795, 
also  reserved  "one  piece  two  miles  square  at  the  lower  rapids  of  San- 
dusky River."  This  reservation  is  now  known  as  Fremont  township. 

About  the  time  of  the  treaty  of  1785,  two  traders,  a  Scotchman 
and  an  Englishman,  came  up  the  river  in  boats  and  as  they  could  not 
pass  the  rapids,  landed  and  built  a  log  house  and  established  a  trading 
post.  This  house  was  built  on  what  is  now  Fort  Stephenson  Park. 
The  post  prospered  and  became  a  great  central  point  for  the  collection 
of  furs.  In  the  year  1803,  Joseph  Badger,  a  Presbyterian  missionary, 
came  to  the  post  and  built  a  log  house  on  the  same  grounds  a  few  feet 
east  of  the  post  house. 

It  is  probable  that  when  the  Indians  became  troublesome,  some 
attempt  at  preparing  the  place  for  defence  was  made,  but  for  the  first 
authentic  account  of  the  building  of  the  fortifications  that  we  have 
been  able  to  find,  we  are  indebted  to  General  Hayes,  which  we  give  to 
our  readers  in  the  following  letter : 


107 

COLONEL  JOHN  CAMPBELL  TO  ELLSHA  WHITTLESEY. 

LOWER  SANDUSKY,  July  17,  1812. 

Dear  Sir: — We  arrived  here  on  the  morning  of  the  14th.  From  Cleveland' 
we  came  by  water.  We  found  the  fortifications  here  in  considerable  forward- 
ness. The  stockade  is  nearly  completed;  we  are  progressing  in  the  work.  It  is 
difficult  to  say  to  whom  the  command  of  this  post  belongs.  A  man  who  bears 
the  title  of  Major  Butler,  has  instructions  from  the  Governor,  relating  to  the 
fortifying  of  this  place  somewhat  similar  to  mine,  but  cannot  ascertain  that  he 
has,  or  ever  has  had,  a  commission  either  under  this  State  or  the  United  States. 
Captain  Norton,  from  Delaware,  is  here  with  about  thirty  men  ;  he  continues  to- 
command  his  company  and  I  mine,  and  intend  so  to  do  until  the  pleasure  of 
the  commander-in-chief  is  known.  Harmony  prevails  among  us,  and  our  men 
are  in  good  spirits.  A  gentleman  arrived  here  this  morning  from  Detroit.  He 
confirms  the  report  that  General  Hull  has  crossed  into  Canada,  and  that  he  is 
now  fortifying  Sandwich.  No  opposition  was  made'  to  his  landing.  Colonel 
Munson,  aid  to  Governor  Meigs,  has  received  a  mortal  wound  by  an  accidental 
shot  from  one  of  his  party.  The  ball  passed  through  his  left  arm  and  lodged  in 
his  body.  The  ball  has  not  been  extracted.  To  the  politeness  of  this  gentle- 
man we  are  indebted  for  the  perusal  of  General  Hull's  proclamation  to  the  in- 
habitants of  Canada.  He  invites  them  to  accept  the  friendship  and  protection 
of  the  United  States,  and  promises  security  and  protection  to  their  property  and 
possessions,  but  threatens  extermination  of  those  who  unite  with  the  merciless 
savages  to  murder  our  unoffending  citizens.  The  Indians  here  appear  per- 
fectly friendly.  Some  of  them  brought  here  an  Indian  who  had  stolen  horses 
from  General  Hull's  army.  He  is  still  a  prisoner  here.  The  Detroit  mail  has 
arrived.  It  informs  us  that  Colonel  Munson  is  dead. 

With  due  respect,  Sir, 

JOHN  CAMPBELL. 

General  Harrison  visited  Fort  Stephenson  in  June,  and  in  the 
orders  left  with  Major  Croghan,  stated — "  Should  the  British  troops 
approach  you  in  force  with  cannon,  and  you  can  discover  them  in  time 
to  effect  a  retreat,  you  will  do  so  immediately,  destroying  all  the  public 
stores. 

"  You  must  be  aware  that  the  attempt  to  retreat  in  the  face  of  an 
Indian  force,  would  be  in  vain.  Against  such  an  enemy  your  garrison 
would  be  safe,  however  great  the  number." 

Immediately  upon  the  raising  of  the  siege  of  Fort  Meigs,  General 
Clay  notified  General  Harri  on  at  Fort  Seneca  of  the  fact  and  of  the-, 
probability  of  an  attack  on  Forts  Stephenson  or  Seneca  General 
Harrison  called  a  council  of  war  and  it  was  unanimously  decided  that 
Fort  Stephenson  was  untenable  against  artillery  and  should  therefore- 
be  abandoned  Orders  to  this  effect  were  sent  to  Croghan,  by  a  Mr. 
Conner  and  two  Indians,  who  lost  their  way  and  were  thereby  delayed, 


108 

so  that  when  Croghan  received  the  message,  he  thought  he  could  not 
with  safety  retreat.  A  council  of  his  officers  was  called  and  they  con- 
cluded they  could  successfully  defend  the  place  and  so  notified  their 
general.  General  Harrison,  on  receipt  of  this,  sent  Colonel  Wells  to 
assume  command  and  ordered  Croghan  to  repair  to  Fort  Seneca;  but, 
on  his  arrival  at  headquarters  of  the  general,  Croghan  gave  such  satis- 
factory evidences  of  his  ability  to  maintain  the  post,  that  he  was  imme- 
diately sent  back,  with  instructions  to  resume  command  of  the  Post. 

The  following  account  of  the  battle  of  Croghan's  Victory,  we  take 
from  "An  impartial  and  correct  history  of  the  war  between  the  United 
'States  of  America  and  Great  Britain."  Published  by  John  Low,  No. 
17,  Chatham  street,  New  York— 1815. 

"  On  the  evening  of  the  1st  of  August,  the  British  and  Indians, 
who  had  come  up  the  Sandusky  River,  from  the  bay,  commenced 
from  the  boats  a  heavy  cannonading  upon  the  fort,  and  threw  in  a 
great  number  of  shells  from  their  bomb  batteries.  The  enemy  con- 
tinued his  operations  without  success,  until  the  evening  of  the  2d, 
when,  after  throwing  a  great  number  of  balls  from  a  six-pounder,  at 
the  northwest  angle  of  the  fort,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  breach,  a 
column,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Short,  advanced  to  the 
point  on  which  the  artillery  had  been  played,  with  intention  of  storm- 
ing, but  the  judicious  management  of  Major  Croghan  foiled  the 
enemy  in  his  attempt.  The  ditch,  which  surrounded  the  works,  was 
about  eight  feet  wide,  and  of  equal  depth — this  the  enemy  had  to  enter 
before  they  could  approach  the  pickets;  (through  the  top  of  each,  a 
bayonet  was  driven  in  a  horizontal  direction).  While  in  this  situation, 
the  six-pounder,  which  was  masked  in  a  block-house,  and  a  ravine 
adjacent,  poured  upon  the  storming  column  a  tremendous  shower  of 
musket  balls,  which  did  terrible  execution,  and  so  confounded  the 
assailants,  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Short,  who  had  previously  ordered 
his  men  to  "  scale  the  pickets,  and  show  the  damned  Yankee  rascals  no 
quarters,"  exhibited  a  white  handkerchief  as  a  signal  of  distress,  evinc- 
ing his  disposition  to  have  quarters  given  him,  after  he  had  proclaimed 
that  the  garrison  should  be  massacred.  It  was,  however,  too  late — the 
next  discharge  proved  fatal — he  fell — and  Lieutenant  Gordon,  of  the 
Twenty-ninth  Regiment,  died  by  his  side.  This  was  nearly  two  hours 
before  sun  set.  The  firing  from  the  block-house  was  principally 
directed  at  the  enemy  who  had  taken  refuge  in  the  direction  of  the 
ravine — the  slaughter  there  was  immense,  and  General  Proctor,  who 
commanded  in  person,  ordered  the  allied  enemy  to  retreat  to  their  boats. 


109 

The  greater  part  of  the  night  was  occupied  in  carrying  off  the  dead 
and  wounded — from  the  number  of  trails  discovered  in  the  grass,  it  is 
evident  that  no  less  than  fifty  of  the  dead  were  dragged  away.  About 
thirty  killed,  including  the  two  officers  mentioned  above,  were  left  in 
the  ditch  and  ravine — and  thirty  prisoners,  eighteen  severely  wounded, 
which  General  Proctor,  in  his  hurry,  left  behind,  were  afterwards 
brought  into  the  fort.  It  is  a  fact,  worthy  of  observation,  that  not 
one  Indian  was  iound  among  the  dead,  although  it  is  known  that  from 
300  to  400  were  present,  under  the  celebrated  Captain  Elliot.  The 
number  of  British  Regulars  was  490,  from  the  Forty-ninth  Regiment. 
Major  Croghan  had  but  one  man  killed,  and  seven  slightly  wounded. 

The  British  loss,  by  their  own  confession,  amounted  to  ninety-four,, 
exclusive  of  Indians.  There  was,  however,  sufficient  evidence  to  justify 
the  belief  that  it  was  considerably  more. 

When  Colonel  Elliot  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  fort,  he  stated 
that,  unless  his  demands  were  promptly  acceded  to,  a  general  massacre 
would  ensue. 

And  when  Colonel  Short,  who  commanded  the  British  Regulars^ 
destined  to  storm  the  fort,  had  formed  his  troops  in  a  line  parallel  with 
the  ditch,  he  ordered  them,  in  the  hearing  of  our  men,  to  leap  the 
ditch,  cut  down  the  pickets,  and  give  the  Americans  no  quarter.  This 
barbarous  order,  which  none  but  a  savage  could  give,  was  not,  how- 
ever, permitted  to  go  unpunished,  for  the  words  were  hardly  out  of  the 
mouth  of  the  British  commander,  when  the  retributive  justice  of  Provi- 
dence arrested  him,  and  the  wretch  was  obliged  to  sue  for  that  mercy 
which  he  had  determined  not  to  extend  to  others.  It  may  be  observed 
here,  in  honor  of  the  character  of  the  American  soldiers,  that  although 
their  little  band  were  well  aware  of  the  fate  which  the  enemy  had  pre- 
pared for  them,  yet,  they  were  no  sooner  subdued,  than  the  Americans 
forgot  the  crimes  of  the  enemy  in  their  sufferings ;  and  the  wounded  in 
the  ditch,  whose  groans,  and  constant  calls  for  water,  were  heard  by 
men  in  the  fort,  were  supplied  with  that  necessary  article,  on  the  night 
succeeding  the  discomfiture  of  the  enemy,  by  the  generosity  of  the 
Americans,  who,  with  considerable  hazard,  ventured  to  risk  their  lives 
in  order  to  alleviate  the  sufferings  of  the  very  men  who  had  plotted 
their  entire  destruction. 

The  brevet  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  has  been  conferred  by  the 
President  of  the  United  States  on  Major  Croghan. 

The  ladies  of  Chillicothe  have  presented  him  with  a  sword,  and  a 
flattering  address." 


110 
THE  DEFENCE  OF  FORT  STEPHENSON 

The  occasion  of  the  unveiling  of  this  beautiful  monument  was 
intended  to  be  on  the  seventy-second  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Fort 
>Stephenson,  but  as  that  day  falls  on  Sunday  this  year,  the  time  was  set 
for  Saturday,  the  1st.  A  brief  sketch  of  that  memorable  battle  may 
not  be  uninteresting  to  the  Leader  readers  at  this  time.  On  the  29th 
of  July,  1813,  General  Harrison  sent  instructions  to  Major  Croghan  to 
immediately  abandon  Fort  Stephenson,  set  fire  to  it,  and  repair  with 
the  command  to  headquarters.  These  instructions  were  received  by 
Croghan  too  late  to  be  carried  into  execution,  on  account  of  the  rapid 
.advance  of  the  enemy,  and  in  his  answer  to  Harrison  he  closes  his  short 
note,  saying,  "We  have  determined  to  maintain  this  place,  and  by 
heavens  we  can."  The  battle  has  been  described  by  many  writers,  but 
the  most  correct  description  will  be  found  in  Croghan's  report  to  Gen- 
eral Harrison,  from  which  are  made  the  following  extracts:  "The 
combined  force  of  the  enemy,  amounting  to  at  least  five  hundred 
regulars  and  seven  or  eight  hundred  Indians,  under  the  immediate  com- 
mand of  General  Proctor,  made  its  appearance  before  this  place  early 
on  Sunday  evening  last,  and  so  soon  as  the  General  had  made  disposi- 
tion of  his  troops  as  would  cut  off  my  retreat,  should  I  be  disposed  to 
make  one,  he  sent  Colonel  Elliot,  accompanied  by  Major  Chambers, 
with  a  flag  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the  fort,  as  he  was  anxious  to 
spare  the  effusion  of  blood,  which  he  should  probably  not  have  in  his 
power  to  do  should  he  be  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  taking  the  place 
by  storm.  My  answer  to  the  summons  was  that  I  was  determined  to 
defend  the  place  to  the  last  extremity,  and  that  no  force,  however  large, 
should  induce  me  to  surrender  it.  As  soon  as  the  flag  was  returned,  a 
brisk  fire  was  opened  upon  us  from  the  gunboats  in  the  river  and  from 
a  howitzer  on  shore,  which  was  kept  up  during  the  night.  About 
4  o'clock  next  afternoon  (second)  discovering  that  the  fire  was  concen- 
trated against  the  northwestern  angle  of  the  fort,  I  became  confident 
that  his  object  was  to  make  a  breach  and  attempt  to  storm  the  works  at 
that  point.  Men  were  ordered  out  to  strengthen  that  part,  which  was 
effectually  done  by  means  of  bags  of  flour,  sand,  etc.  About  five 
hundred,  having  formed  in  close  column,  advanced  to  assault  our  works 
at  the  expected  point,  at  the  same  time  making  two  feints  on  the  front 
-of  Captain  Hunter's  lines.  Another  column  was  so  completely 
enveloped  in  smoke  as  not  to  be  discovered  until  it  had  approached 
within  fifteen  or  twenty  paces  of  the  lines,  but  the  men,  being  all  at 


Ill 

their  posts  and  ready  to  receive  it,  commenced  so  heavy  and  galling  a 
fire  as  to  throw  the  column  into  confusion.  Being  quickly  rallied,  it 
advanced  to  the  center  of  the  works  and  began  to  leap  into  the  ditch. 
Just  at  that  moment  a  fire  of  grape  was  opened  from  our  six  pounder, 
which  had  previously  been  ranged  so  as  to  rake  in  that  direction,  which, 
together  with  the  musketry,  threw  the  enemy  into  such  confusion  that 
they  were  compelled  to  retire  precipitately  to  the  woods.  My  whole 
loss  during  this  siege  was  one  killed  and  seven  slightly  wounded.  The 
loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  must  exceed  150." 
Croghan  was  afterwards  presented  with  a  gold  medal  by  Congress, 
and  a  sword  to  each  of  his  officers  for  gallantry  at  the  defence  of  the 
fort.  The  force  in  the  fort  numbered  150  men,  of  which  number  only 
one  survives,  Sergeant  William  Gaines,  of  Wilson  Station,  Ellsworth 
County,  Kansas.  During  President  Hayes' administration,  Mr.  Gaines 
was  placed  on  the  retired  list.  The  gun,  Old  Betsy,  which  played  such 
a  principal  part  in  the  defence,  has  been  placed  on  the  fort  for  many 
years,  and  to-day  stands  there  as  another  hero  of  that  terrible  struggle. 


BATTLE  OF  FORT  STEPHENSON. 


The  scope  of  country  laying  along  the  river,  and  more  particularly 
that  part  around  the  city  of  Fremont,  fills  an  important  place  in  the 
history  of  the  Indians.  Here  was  the  principal  village  of  the  Neutral 
Nation.  The  grand  councils  of  this  confederacy  were  held  here,  and 
many  of  the  noted  chiefs,  including  Brant,  Little  Turtle,  Red  Jacket 
and  King  Crane,  and  others  came  from  far  and  near  and  debated  and 
planned  the  destruction  of  the  white  men  .of  northwestern  Ohio. 
Where  Fremont  now  stands,  prisoners  captured  by  the  Indians  were 
compelled  to  run  the  gauntlet  and  suffer  the  barbarities  that  the  Indian 
knows  so  well  how  to  inflict.  Among  the  most  noted  prisoners  that 
were  brought  here  were  Daniel  Boone,  Simon  Ken  ton  and  John  Heck- 
ewelder,  with  many  others. 

Owing  to  the  importance  of  the  place  and  the  necessity  of  keeping 
open  a  line  of  communication,  as  well  as  establishing  a  base  of  supply, 
led  to  the  building  of  a  fort  at  this  place  called  Fort  Stephenson.  The 
fort  was  oblong  in  shape,  one  hundred  yards  long  and  fifty  yards  wide, 
inclosed  by  timbers  twelve  feet  long,  set  in  the  ground  endwise,  sur- 
rounded by  a  ditch  six  feet  wide  and  nine  feet  deep,  with  the  earth 
thrown  up  against  the  pickets.  The  fort  was  further  protected  by 
block  houses  placed  at  different  angles. 


112 

The  British,  having  left  Fort  Meigs,  sailed  into  Sandusky  Bay  and 
up  the  river,  while  the  Indians  marched  across  the  country  for  the  pur- 
pose  of  making  a  combined  attack  on  Fort  Stephenson. 


GENERAL  HARRISON, 


learning  of  the  enemy's  movement  on  the  evening  of  July  29th,  and 
anticipating  that  an  attack  would  be  made  either  at  this  place  or  Fort 
Ball,  called  a  council  of  war.  The  council  was  of  the  opinion  that 
Fort  Stephenson  was  not  prepared  to  stand  an  assault  backed  by  heavy 
artillery,  and  it  was  best  to  withdraw  the  troops  and  destroy  the  fort.  A 
messenger  was  sent  with  orders  to  Major  Croghan  informing  him  of  the 
decision  of  the  council.  The  messenger,  however,  did  not  reach 
Croghan  until  11  o'clock  the  next  day.  Major  Croghan,  deeming  this 
impracticable  and  hazardous,  replied  : 

"We  have  determined  to  maintain  the  place,  and,  by  heavens,  we 
can."  General  Harrison  treated  this  reply  as  disobedience  of  orders 
and  relieved  him  of  his  command.  Major  Croghan  at  once  explained 
to  the  general's  satisfaction,  who  returned  him  to  his  post. 


THE  ENEMY  APPROACH. 

The  approach  of  the  enemy  was  discovered  on  the  31st  of  July 
ascending  the  river  The  British,  to  the  number  of  five  hundred,  under 
the  command  ot  General  Proctor,  and  seven  or  eight  hundred  Indians 
under  Tecumseh,  were  well  deployed  in  all  directions  for  the  purpose  of 
cutting  off  the  garrison  should  a  retreat  be  attempted.  The  British 
landed  about  a  mile  below  the  fort,  taking  ashore  with  them  one 
howitzer.  General  Proctor  then  sent  a  messenger  to  the  fort  with  a 
flag  and  a  summors  for  an  immediate  surrender,  as  he  was  anxious  to 
avoid  the  shedding  of  human  blood.  Major  Croghan's  representative, 
Lieutenant  Ship,  answered  "  that  they  would  defend  the  fort  to  the 
1  ist  extremity,  and  under  no  conditions  would  it  be  surrendered."  Mr. 
Dickson  then  spoke  of  the  difficulty  of  restraining  the  Indians  from 
ma&sacreing  the  garrison  in  case  of  British  success.  "  When  ihis  fort 
is  taken  there  will  be  no  one  to  massacre,"  was  the  defiant  answer. 

Firing  was  now  commenced  by  the  gunboats  and  the  howitzer  on 
shore,  but  produced  little  effect.  Major  Croghan  had  but  one  piece  of 


113 

artillery,  but  by  changing  its  position  from  place  to  place  induced  the 
belief  that  he  had  several  pieces.  He  soon  discontinued  firing  and 
removed  the  cannon  to  the  blockhouse  at  the  northwest  angle  of  the 
fort,  at  which  point  the  enemy  had  been  concentrating  their  fire,  thus 
leading  Croghan  to  believe  that  they  would  make  an  assault  at  that 
point.  The  gun  was  masked,  and  loaded  with  powder  and  a 
double  charge  of  slugs  and  grape  shot.  Late  in  the  evening  of 
August  2d,  the  smoke  of  the  firing  had  completely  enveloped  the 
fort,  the  assault  was  made  and  soon  the  storming  column,  three  hundred 
and  fifty  strong,  was  within  twenty  yards  of  the  northwest  angle  when  a 
heavy  firing  of  musketry  was  opened  upon  them  which  threw  them  into 
confusion. 

Colonel  Short,  who  led  the  column,  soon  rallied  his  troops,  leaped 
into  the  ditch  shouting,  "  Come  on,  boys,  and  give  the  d —  Yankees 
no  quarter."  In  a  few  minutes  it  was  full.  The  masked  port  hole  was 
opened  and  Betsy  Croghan,  the  six  pound  cannon,  poured  shot  and 
shell  into  the  mass  of  soldiers,  creating  such  a  panic  that  retreat  was 
the  consequence,  although  desperate  efforts  were  made  to  rally  them. 
Colonel  Short  was  mortally  wounded,  and  hoisting  his  handkerchief 
upon  the  point  of  his  sword,  cried  for  quarter.  The  loss  of  the  garrison 
was  one  killed  and  seven  wounded,  while  that  of  the  enemy  could  not 
have  been  less  than  one  hundred  and  sixty  killed  and  wounded. 

The  wounded  in  the  ditch  were  in  a  deplorable  condition,  but  were 
relieved  as  much  as  possible  by  the  Americans.  About  3  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  the  British  and  Indians  commenced  a  disorderly  retreat,  and 
so  anxious  were  they  to  get  away  that  they  abandoned  quite  an  amount 
of  military  stores.  Croghan's  entire  number  of  men  was  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty,  and  a  large  portion  of  these  were  raw  recruits.  His 
artillery  consisted  of  the  six-pound  cannon  which  did  such  effective 
work.  It  is  now  in  possession  of  the  city  and  will  be  placed  at  the  base 
of  the  monument. 


114 
THE  BRITISH  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  BATTLE. 


COLONIAL  COKKESPONDENCE,  LOWER  CANADA,  1813,  VOL.  2,  No.  122. 

HEADQUARTERS,  KINGSTON, 
UPPER  CANADA,  1st  August,  1813. 

My  Lard  ;_******  The  arrival 

of  Mr.  Dickson  from  the  mission  with  2,000  Indian  warriors,  has  enabled  me  to 
resume  offensive  operations  with  the  left  division  of  the  Upper  Canada  army 
under  the  command  of  Brigadier-General  Proctor.  Major-General  Harrison 
having  shown  some  of  his  cavalry  and  riflemen  in  the  Michigan  territory,  a 
forward  movement  has  been  made  by  the  Indian  warriors,  supported  by  a  few 
companies  of  the  Forty-first  Regiment,  upon  Sandusky,  from  whence  they  will 
unite  with  Tecumseh's  band  of  warriors,  employed  in  investing  Fort  Meigs. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  My  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

GEORGE  PREVOST. 


HEADQUARTERS,  ST.  DAVIDS, 
NIAGARA  FRONTIER,  25th  Aug.  1813. 

My  Lord :—        *  *  *  *  *  *  Major-General 

Proctor  having  given  way  to  the  clamor  of  our  Indian  allies  to  act  offensively, 
moved  forward  on  the  20th  ultimo  towards  the  enemy  with  about  three  hundred 
and  fifty  of  the  Forty-first  Regiment,  and  between  three  and  four  thousand 
Indian  warriors,  and  on  the  2d  instant,  attempted  to  carry  by  assault  the  block 
houses  and  works  at  Sandusky,  where  the  enemy  had  concentrated  a  consider- 
able force.  He,  however,  soon  experienced  the  timidity  of  the  Indians  when 
exposed  to  the  fire  of  musketry  and  cannon  in  an  open  country,  and  how  little 
dependence  could  be  placed  on  their  numbers.  Previous  to  the  assault,  they 
could  scarcely  muster  as  many  hundreds  as  they  had  before  thousands,  and  as 
soon  as  it  had  commenced,  they  withdrew  themselves  out  of  the  reach  of  the 
enemy's  fire.  They  are  never  a  disposable  force.  The  handful  of  His  Majesty's 
troops  employed  on  this  occasion,  displayed  the  greatest  bravery,  nearly  the 
whole  of  them  having  reached  the  fort  and  made  every  effort  to  enter  it,  but  a 
galling  and  destructive  fire  being  kept  up  by  the  enemy  within  the  block  houses 
and  from  behind  the  picketing,  which  completely  protected  them,  and  which  we 
had  not  the  means  to  force,  the  Major-General  thought  it  most  prudent  not  to 
continue  longer  so  unavailing  a  combat,  and  accordingly  drew  off  the  assailants 
and  returned  to  Sandwich,  with  the  loss  of  twenty-five  killed,  as  many  missing, 
and  about  forty  wounded.  Amongst  the  former  are  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Short,  and  Lieutenant  J.  G.  Gordon,  of  the  Forty-first  Regiment. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  My  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

GEORGE  PREVOST, 


115 
OTHER  CELEBRATIONS. 


1839  AND  1852. 

Among  the  notable  celebrations  of  the  battle  of  Fort  Stephenson 
are  those  of  1839  and  1852.  The  former  was  the  first  formal  recogni- 
tion made  of  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  in  Lower  Sandusky  (now 
Fremont.)  It  was  a  grand  occasion  for  the  little  village.  Twenty-one 
of  the  most  prominent  citizens,  of  whom  Dr.  L.  Q.  Rawson,  General 
R.  P.  Buckland  and  Homer  Everett  are  the  only  ones  known  to  be  now 
living,  had  the  celebration  in  charge.  A  mammoth  ox  was  admirably 
roasted  whole,  after  the  best  Kentucky  style,  and  was  supported  by  sev- 
eral smaller  animals,  cooked  in  a  similar  manner.  Dinner  was  served 
under  an  arbor  within  a  few  rods  of  the  fort,  and  in  the  afternoon  Hon. 
Eleutheros  Cooke,  of  Sandusky,  delivered  an  eloquent  and  appropriate 
oration.  Among  the  many  letters  of  regret  received  on  that  occasion 
was  one  from  Colonel  George  Croghan,  and  this  letter  was  read  by 
General  Hayes  during  the  exercises  last  Saturday.  The  letter  was  as 
follows : 

ST.  Louis,  Mo.,  26th  July,  1839. 

Gentlemen :— I  have  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter  of  the  8th  inst., 
inviting  me,  on  the  part  of  the  citizens  of  Lower  Sandusky,  to  be  present  with 
them  on  the  coming  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Fort  Stephenson. 

It  is  with  regret  that  I  am,  on  account  of  official  duties,  unable  to 
comply  with  your  nattering  invitation.  In  communicating  this,  my  reply,  I 
cannot  forbear  to  acknowledge  with  deep  gratitude,  the  honor  you  confer.  To 
have  been  with  those  gallant  men  who  served  with  me  on  the  occasion  alluded 
to,  permitted  by  a  kind  Providence  to  perform  a  public  duty  which  has  been 
deemed  worthy  of  special  notice  by  my  fellow  citizens,  is  a  source  of  high  grati- 
fication, brightened,  too,  by  the  reflection  that  the  scene  of  conflict  is  now,  by 
the  enterprise  and  industry  of  your  people,  the  home  of  a  thriving  and  intelli- 
gent community. 

I  beg  to  offer  to  you,  gentlemen,  and  through  you  to  the  citizens  of  Lower 
Sandusky,  my  warmest  thanks  for  the  remembrance  you  have  so  flatteringly 
expressed. 

With  every  feeling  of  respect  and  gratitude, 

I  am  yours, 

G.  CKOGHAN. 
Dr.  Frank  Williams,  and  others,  Committee. 

The  Committee  of  Arrangements  for  the  celebration  in  1852  was 
composed  of:  C.  O.  Tillotson,  Wm.  E.  Haynes,  James  Mitchell, 


116 

M.  N.  Zeigler,  E.  F.  Dickinson,  L.  Caul,  B.  J.  Bartlett,  J.  L.  Greene, 
O.  L.  Nims,  8.  Buckland,  H.  Everett  and  Joseph  Stuber.  Fully 
6,000  people  were  present.  A  salute  of  thirty-one  guns,  fired  from  old 
"  Betsy  Croghan,  "  opened  the  exercises.  In  the  procession  were  : 

Engine  Fire  Company,  No.  1,  with  W.  H.  Gibson,  foreman,  and 
W.  W.  Armstrong,  one  of  the  men  who  pulled  the  hand  engine  and 
hose  cart. 

Tiffin  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  Captain  J.  H   Ford. 

Washington  Guards,  of  Tiffin,  Captain  Lang,  accompanied  by  a 
fine  brass  band. 

Fort  Ball  Artillery  and  band,  Captain  Truman  H.  Bagby. 

Fremont  Artillery,  Captain  Isaac  Swank,  with  the  cannon  "Betsy 
Croghan." 

Following  citizens  and  strangers  making  a  brilliant  and  imposing 
array. 

Homer  Everett  and  W.  H.  Gibson  made  eloquent  addresses. 
Dinner  was  served  to  the  guests  at  Vandercook's  Hotel.  Judge  Bell 
was  president  of  the  day. 

HISTORICAL  POETRY. 


Captain  John  M.  Lemmon,  in  his  address  on  Saturday  last,  referred 
to  Thomas  L.  Hawkins,  a  pioneer  settler  of  Sandusky  County  and  a 
local  poet  of  considerable  notoriety,  who  gave  to  the  gun  used  by 
Major  Croghan  in  the  defence  of  Fort  Stephenson  its  name  of  Betsey 
Croghan.  Mr.  Hawkins  was  a  voluminous  writer  and  ground  out 
prose  or  verse  on  the  slightest  provocation.  We  have  a  volume  of  his 
book  in  which  were  published  many  of  his  poetical  effusions,  from  an 
advertisement  which  the  author  pasted  on  an  improved  wash  board  sold 
by  himself  to  an  Exposition  of  the  Wiles  of  the  Devil.  Pertinent  to 
the  occasion,  we  print  his  salutation  to  the  old  six-pounder,  which  he 
explains  in  a  foot  note,  was  written  on  the  2d  of  August,  1852,  while 
celebrating  the  anniversary  of  Croghan's  victory. 


THE  AUTHOR'S  SALUTATION, 

ON     THE    RETURN    OF   THE    OLD    SIX-POUNDER,    THAT    DEFEATED    THE 
BRITISH  FORCES,  BY  MAJOR  CROGHAN,  AT  FORT  STEPHENSON. 

Hail !  thou  old  friend,  of  Fort  McGee  ! 
Little  did  I  expect  again  to  see, 
And  hear  thy  voice  of  victory, 
Thou  defender  of  Ohio  ! 

I  wonder  who  it  was  that  sought  thee, 
To  victory's  ground  again  hath  brought  thee, 
From  strangers  hands  at  length  hath  caught  thee  ; 
He  is  a  friend  to  great  Ohio  1 

He  is  surely  worthy  of  applause, 
To  undertake  so  good  a  cause, 
Altho'  a  pleader  of  her  laws,* 
And  statutes  of  Ohio. 

What  shame  thy  block  house  is  not  standing, 
Thy  pickets,  as  at  first,  commanding, 
Protecting  Sandusky's  noble  landing, 
The  frontier  of  Ohio  ! 

Thy  pickets,  alas  !  are  all  un reared, 
No  faithful  sentinel  on  guard, 
Nor  band  of  soldiers  well  prepared, 
Defending  great  Ohio. 

Where  have  the  upthrown  ditches  gone, 
By  British  cannon  rudely  torn  ? 
Alas  !  with  grass  they  are  o'ergrown, 
Neglected  by  Ohio. 

O  tell  me  where  thy  chieftains  all — 
Croghan,  Dudley,  Miller,  Ball  !— 
Some  of  whom,  I  know,  did  fall 
In  defending  of  Ohio. 

Canst  thou  not  tell  how  Proctor  swore, 
When  up  your  matted  turf  he  tore, 
Which  shielded  us  from  guns  a  score, 
He  poured  upon  Ohio  ? 


And  how  Tecumseli  lay  behind  you  ; 
With  vain  attempts  he  tried  to  blind  you, 
And,  unprepared,  he'd  find  you, 
And  lead  you  from  Ohio? 


Perhaps,  like  Hamlet's  ghost,  you've  come, 
This  day,  to  celebrate  the  fame 
Of  Croghan's  honored,  worthy  name, 
The  hero  of  Ohio  ? 


I  greet  thee  !     Thou  art  just  in  time 
To  tell  of  victory  most  sublime, 
Tho'  told  in  unconnected  rhyme  ; 
Thou  art  welcome  in  Ohio. 


But  since  thou  canst  thyself  speak  well, 
Now  let  thy  thundering  voice  tell 
What  bloody  carnage  then  befell 
The  foes  of  great  Ohio. 

(And  then  she  thundered  loud. 
*Brice  J.  Bartlett. 


Among  the  pioneers  of  Sandusky  County  who  were  present  at  the 
unveiling  ot  the  Monument  were  four  who  took  a  prominent  part  in 
1839  in  the  first  celebration  of  the  anniversary  of  Croghan's  victory, 
viz:  Gen.  R.  P.  Bucklancl,  Dr.  La.  Q  Rawson  and  Hon.  Homer 
Everett,  of  Fremont,  and  Hon.  Clark  Waggoner,  of  Toledo.  The 
first  two  are  the  only  surviving  members  of  the  Committee  of  Arrange- 
ments for  the  celebration  in  1839.  The  Committee  consisted  of  Dr. 
La.  Q.  Rawson,  Hon.  Rodolphus  Dickinson,  Dr.  Daniel  Brainard,  Gen. 
Samuel  Treat,  Gen.  Jobn  Patterson,  Samuel  Thompson,  Gen.  John 
Bell,  David  Gallagher,  R.  P.  Buckland,  James  Justice,  N.  B.  Eddy, 
J.  R.  Pease,  Dr.  R.  S.  Rice,  Thos.  L.  Hawkins,  Jeremiah  Everett,  Dr. 
Franklin  Williams,  Jesse  S.  Olmstead,  Isaac  Knapp,  Andrew  More- 
house,  James  Valette,  Wm.  Fields,  all  of  whom  are  dead  except  Gen. 
Buckland  and  Dr.  Rawson.  Hon.  Homer  Everett,  President  of  the 
Sandusky  County  Pioneer  Association,  was  born  in  what  is  now  the 
adjacent  County  of  Erie  in  1813,  and  has  resided  in  Sandusky  County 


119 

since  1815.     He  has  attended  every  celebration  of  the  victory  of  Fort 
Stephenson,  and  was  present  at  the  unveiling  ot  the  Monument. 

In  1839,  at  the  time  of  the  first  celebration  of  the  victory,  Hon. 
Clark  Waggoner,  then  aged  19,  and  editor  of  the  Lower  Sandusky 
Whig,  was  Secretary  of  the  Citizens'  Meeting,  and  was  largely  influen- 
tial in  promoting  the  Celebration.  The  following  is  one  of  his  editorials 
on  the  subject : 

"  We  take  the  responsibility,  as  a  self-nominated  committee  of  one, 
to  extend  to  our  editorial  brethren  of  Northwestern  Ohio,  a  cordial 
invitation  to  a  participation  in  the  festivities  of  the  2nd  of  August. 
Come  on,  Gentlemen,  you  shall  be  "well  stayed  with"  so  far  as  our 
exertions  can  go.  You,  of  the  Huron  Reflector,  Huron  Advertiser, 
Sandusky  Clarion,  Tiffin  Gazette,  Ohio  Whig,  Maumee  Express  and 
Manhattan  Advertizer,  be  with  us,  and  we  will  insure  you  the  greatest 
specimen  of  "barbecuing"  this  side  of  old  Kentuck." 

July  27,  1839. 

NOTES. 


We  noticed  the  following  newspaper  men  taking  in  the  sights  :  D. 
R.  Locke,  Toledo  Blade ;  W.  W.  Armstrong,  Cleveland  Plain  Dealer ; 
Gen.  J.  M.  Comly,  Toledo  Commercial  Telegram;  I.  F.  Mack,  San- 
dusky Register ;  De  Wolfe,  Findlay  Republican;  A.  J.  Bebout,  Toledo 
Democrat ;  E.  B.  Schafer,  Norwalk  Adler ;  Fred  Fox  and  C.  A. 
Palmer,  Toledo  Post ;  Joe  K.  Ohl,  Toledo  See;  E.  C.  Bailey,  Medina 
Gazette;  J.  K  Kraemer,  Oak  Harbor  Exponent,  and  Geo.  Gosline, 
Oak  Harbor  Press. 

Many  shot-riddled  flags  were  carried  in  the  procession. 

The  splendid  picture  of  Grant  issued  in  last  week's  Journal  was 
conspicuous  among  many  of  the  decorations. 

A  number  of  invited  guests  who  were  present  and  whose  names 
are  mentioned  on  the  first  page  were  accompanied  by  their  wives  or 
daughters. 

The  survivors  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society  of  Clyde,  filled  a  wagon 
which  attracted  much  attention.  What  this  society  accomplished  for 
the  soldiers  of  the  Union  is  mentioned  by  Mr.  Lemmon  in  his  address. 


THE  UNVEILING. 

INCIDENTS     OF    THE     DAY. 

Twas  hot. 

But  it  got  cooler. 

Grant  was  not  forgotten. 

It  was  a  very  peaceable  day. 

The  procession  was  two  miles  long. 

Every-one  pronounces  it  a  success. 

It  is  past,  but  pleasant  memories  remain. 

Stable  room  in  the  city  was  at  a  premium. 

Fostoria's  Cornet  Band  attracted  attention. 

The  high  school  building  was  handsomely  decorated. 

Lunch  stands  were  plentiful  and  did  a  thriving  business. 

The  fire  laddies  in  uniform  carrying  police  clubs  looked  nobby. 

The  monument  was  unveiled  at  precisely  half  past  twelve  o'clock. 

Music  and  song  enlivened  the  occasion  and  was  gratefully  appre- 
preciated. 

Col.  Lemmon's  address,  although  lengthy,  is  worthy  of  preservation. 

Rev'd  Thos.  L.  Hawkins  was  the  reputed  God-father  of  "Betsy 
Croghan." 

The  highest  flag  in  the  city  was  fastened  on  the  spire  of  the  St. 
Joseph's  church. 

Fountains  on  the  streets  allayed  the  suffering  of  the  thirsty,  over- 
heated populace. 

The  homes  of  our  citizens  were  open  to  visiting  friends,  and  kind 
hospitality  reigned. 

The  arch  over  Croghan  street  had  a  picture  of  Ft.  Stephenson  as 
it  was  72  years  ago. 

"Old  Betsy"  was  here  in  1813  and  in  1885  also,  but  this  time  there 
were  no  British  or  Indians, 


121 

Capt.  Hopkins'  choice  was  to  wake  up  the  boys  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  he  succeeded  well. 

"The  public  schools  honor  Croghan's  memory,"  was  a  motto  on  the 
High  School  building. 

"Large  bodies  move  slow,"  hence  it  took  a  long  while  for  the  pro- 
cession to  form  and  get  started.  Trains  on  the  L.  E.  &  W.  were  late. 

St.  Joseph's  church  was  decorated  with  streamers  and  flags,  and 
presented  a  handsome  appearance.  * 

Fremont  had  the  attention  of  a  great  many  dignitaries  of  the 
land.  Those  who  weren't  here  sent  their  regrets. 

Fremont  was  never  before  so  handsomely  decorated,  and  many 
were  the  pleasant  remarks  made  by  strangers  on  this  account. 

Toledo,  Oak  Harbor,  Elmore,  Clyde,  Tiffin,  Norwalk,  in  fact 
nearly  every  town  within  a  circuit  of  thirty  miles  was  well  represented. 

Clyde  sent  an  excellent  band  of  music,  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  a  huge  delegation  of  citizens.  Clyde  knows  how  to  do  things 
handsomely. 

Fremont  ladies  did  much  to  make  the  occasion  a  pleasant  one  and 
for  their  many  handsome  home  decorations  have  the  thanks  of  every 
one. 

J.  L.  Pease  has  an  excellent  voice  for  baritone,  and  knows  how  to 
use  it  to  the  best  effect  We  hope  to  hear  more  of  Mr.  Pease  in  the 
near  future. 

The  liberality  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  is  highly  com- 
mendable. No  expense  or  labor  was  spared  by  them  to  make  the  occa- 
sion a  grand  success 

The  fire-works  last  Saturday  night  were  of  a  superior  kind,  and 
fired,  as  they  were,  from  the  top  of  the  stand-pipe,  could  be  seen  from  all 
parts  of  the  city. 

Hon.  Jas.  R.  Francisco,  a  Mexican  veteran,  carried  a  time-worn 
battle  flag  which  did  service  at  Monterey  and  Palo  Alto.  It  was  a 
curious  and  honorable  relic. 

Col.  Haynes  had,  among  his  guests  last  Saturday,  Senator  Payne, 
Hon.  W.  D.  Hill,  Maj.  W.  W.  Armstrong,  Judge  Haynes,  Col. 
Dudley  Baldwin,  Gen.  T.  W.  Sanderson,  Hon.  R.  G.  Pennington,. 
and  Capt.  D.  L.  Cockley. 

9* 


122 

The  rain  cut  short  the  proceedings  in  Court  House  park,  but  the 
doors  of  the  Presbyterian  church  were  opened  and  the  people — as  many 
as  could  gain  entrance — repaired  there. 

St.  Anns'  various  Catholic  societies  added  much  to  the  appearance 
of  the  procession.  Father  Bauer's  personal  attention  to  his  people  in 
the  procession  elicited  much  favorable  comment. 

A  grand  procession  it  was,  composed  of  police,  bands  of  music, 
military,  city  and  county  officials,  secret,  temperance  and  benevolent 
societies,  old  Mexican  veterans  with  a  Mexican  battle  flag,  veterans  of 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  firemen,  citizens  on  foot  and  in  carriages. 

Our  soldier  is  always  on  guard. 

The  decorations  were  never  excelled  in  Northern  Ohio.     Some  of 
the  American  flags  displayed  were  40x20  feet. 

Hopkins'  Battery  from  Toledo  did  its  duty  well. 

The  stock  of  provisions  did  not  fail.  There  was  enough  to  eat  and 
drink  for  all,  and  an  abundance  left.  The  restaurants  did  a  thriving 
business. 

Toledo  was  largely  represented. 

Forty  barrels  of  ice  water  stood  where  the  people  could  drink  to 
their  comfort  and  satisfaction. 

Eugene  Rawson  Post,  Manville  Moore  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  the  M.  E. 
and  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Churches,  served  dinner  from  12  o'clock  noon 
until  8  o'clock  in  the  evening. 

Perfect  good  order  prevailed  all  day. 

The  Committee  of  Arrangements  were  equal  to  the  occasion. 

The  short  speeches  from  the  distinguished  visitors  were  crisp  and 
pat  as  at  an  experience  meeting. 

When  General  Hayes  read  the  letter  from  General  Grant  acknowl- 
edging the  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  monument, 
and  declining  from  inability,  a  man  in  the  crowd  cried  "three  cheers  for 
General  Grant."  A  silence,  oppressive,  followed.  Gen.  Hayes  said :  "If 
Gen.  Grant  was  living  to-day,  the  proposed  three  cheers  would  have  found 
an  instantaneous  response  from  all.  As  it  is  the  present  grief  and  sor- 
row in  the  hearts  of  the  American  people  will  naturally  silence  any 
cheering  echo  relating  to  the  dead  hero." 


123 

The  triple  arch  across  Croghan  street  was  grand,  and  was  beauti- 
fully decorated. 

Everybody  kept  open  house  and  no  stranger  was  allowed  to  go 
uninvited  to  hospitalities  of  our  citizens. 

The  crowd  was  called  all  the  way  from  10,000  to  25,000. 

The  weight  of  the  monument  entire  is  about  one  hundred  tons. 

W.  W.  Armstrong  said  he  and  Gen.  W.  H.  Gibson  used  to  run 
with  the  fire  engine. 

It  was  the  truth  all  the  same,  but  a  slip  of  the  tongue,  when  W. 
W.  Armstrong  referred  to  "Governor  Foraker."  The  cheers  which  fol- 
lowed showed  the  sentiment  of  his  audience. 

Several  pocketbooks  were  found  on  the  streets.  Not  one  had  any 
cash  in  it. 

The  monument  is  a  beauty. 

Fire  Chief  Reiif  had  a  splendid  platoon  of  police  to  lead  the  pro- 
cession. 

The  Sixteenth  regiment  and  their  excellent  band  added  greatly  to 
the  success  of  the  procession. 

The  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Miller's  band  of  Clyde  had  many 
encomiums. 

John  L.  Greene,  Grand  Marshal,  handled  the  procession  with  skill 
and  precision. 

E.  M.  Hunt,  of  Danbury,  Ottawa  County,  a  gunner  in  the  U.  S. 
Navy,  and  also  a  member  of  Co.  B,  3d  Artillery,  in  the  Mexican  war, 
was  among  the  visitors. 

The  people  of  Sandusky  County  may  congratulate  themselves 
upon  the  happy  realization  of  their  efforts  to  secure  a  fitting  tribute  to 
their  brave  soldiers,  not  only  of  the  late  war  but  also  of  the  Mexican 
war,  and  of  the  war  of  1812.  May  it  long  stand  a  constant  remin- 
der to  future  generations  of  the  many  privations  endured,  noble 
sacrifices  made  and  victories  won  by  those  who  thought  only  of  their 
•country  in  her  hour  of  peril. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


01960 


LD  21A-50TO-4/60 
(A95G2slO)476B 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


235144 


